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"Indeed" Orpheus cleared his throat "As you know, I have important clients, influential friends News comes to my ears that doesn’t even reach castles This ti news, and I want to make sure that your brother-in-law hears of it"

"And what ht this news be?"

Careful, Orpheus!

"As to that, Your Grace " He really was taking great pains to sound regretful "I would rather tell it only to the Adderhead hihter"

"Who at present!" The Milksop adjusted his wig

"Sly, ugly creature!" he uttered "Abducts my prisoner to steal the throne of Ombra from me! Threatens to kill him if her own father doesn’t follow her into the h to catch that puffed-up Bluejay! But why do I bother to tell you all this? I suppose because you brought me the unicorn The best hunt of my life" In a melancholy mood, he stared at Orpheus with eyes alreater the pleasure of killing it, don’t you agree?"

"Words of wisdoain The Milksop loved people to bow to hiuards, he now leaned down to Orpheus "I would so e success with all et er than the last one?"

Orpheus gave the Milksop a confident smile What a talkative, empty-headed fool he was, but then--every story needed such characters They usually died quite early on

It was to be hoped that this general rule held good for the Adderhead’s brother-in-law

"Naturally, Your Highness! That ought not to be any proble every ith care, even though this princely fool wasn’t worth the trouble "But first I must speak to the Silver Prince Rest assured that my information really is of the ut the Milksop a crafty smile, "will receive the throne of Ombra Get me an audience with your immortal brother-in-law, and the Bluejay will meet his well-deserved end at last Violante will be punished for her deceitfulness, and for your triuasus, which will surely impress your friends even more than the unicorn You could hunt it with both crossbows and hawks!"

The Milksop’s pale eyes widened with delight "A Pegasus!" he breathed as he iuards "Fabulous indeed! I’ll get you your audience, but let me advise you," and here he lowered his voice to a whisper, "not to go too close tooff his!"

The Adderhead kept Orpheus waiting another hour It passed as painfully slowly as few hours had before in his whole life The Milksop asked hiht be hunted, and Orpheus proed lions while his ether for the Silver Prince Every one of theht was as famous for his clever reat deal of thinking since Mortola visited him, and he always came to the same conclusion: He could make his dreams of wealth and influence come true only at the Adderhead’s side Even in a state of physical decay, the Silver Prince still played the leading part here With his help, Orpheus et back the book that had er stole it Not toits owner to play with that toy for all eternity