"Whist is to be done with this other prisoner, your highness?"
inquired the duke, making a poke with his forefinger at Sir
Norman. "Is he to stay here, or is he to accompany us?"
His highness turned round, and putting his face close up to Sir
Norman's favored him with a malignant grin.
"You'd like to come, wouldn't you, my dear young friend?"
"Really," said Sir Norman, drawing back and returning the dwarf's
stare with compound interest, "that depends altogether on the
nature of the entertainment; but, at the same time, I'm much
obliged to you for consulting my inclinations."
This reply nearly overset his highness's gravity once more, but
he checked his mirth after the first irresistible squeal; and
finding the company were all arranged in the order of going, and
awaiting his sovereign pleasure, he turned.
"Let him come," he said, with his countenance still distorted by
inward merriment; "It will do him good to see how we punish
offenders here, and teach him what he is to expect himself. Is
your majesty ready?"
"My majesty has been ready and waiting for the last five
minutes," replied the lady, over-looking his proffered hand with
grand disdain, and stepping lightly down from her throne.
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