VII. THE BARGAIN
You must not suppose that Harold read this whole story to the besieging King without pause. When he reached the end of the first part of the tale, Harold closed the red-and-gold volume and looked up.
"Go on!" urged the Red King. "Why do you stop, boy?"
"It is the end of the volume," said Harold.
Red Rex frowned. "Surely, not the end of the tale!" he cried. "Why, you have stopped short in the middle! That Oscar was up to some trick, I know. I want to hear what happened next."
"I am sorry, Your Majesty," repeated Harold. "It is the end of the volume. The rest of the tale is told in another book."
The Red King's eyes blazed with anger. "Why did you not bring the other book with you?" he roared.
"I was not sure that Your Majesty would like the tale," said Harold. "Besides, they will allow one to take from the library but one book at a time from a set of volumes."
"Then you must return and get the next volume immediately," commanded Red Rex. "I must know what happened to Arthur in his quest of the Dragon. Take the flag of truce and go back to Kisington; and let it not be long ere you return!"