Prince: Why, what's the matter?
Kitchen: If there's no scullion here we have to guard the Christmas pie, and if we guard the pie we d-d-die!
Prince: What danger threatens you?
Both: The Brownies!
Prince: Brownies! What are Brownies?
Head Cook: Vy, vat sort of kitchen have you lived in, if you have never seen ze Brownies?
Prince: Oh, I was more like a friend than a page to my master, sir, and the fact is, I've never been in a kitchen before. Er—what are Brownies?
(Brownies cackle with laughter outside.)
Head Cook: Zey are ze evilest leetle beasts in all ze vorld! Venever you sink you are rid of zem, zere zey are at your elbow. (Brownies laugh again.) Vey steal, zey pinch, zey poke, zey pry, and at night, ven all ze house is still, zey come out, and if you do not keep your eyes ver' wide awake zey vill pinch you till you die—zat is, ven you guard the Christmas pie.
Prince: I? Oh, this pleasant little job is meant for me—me? I thank you, sir? (Indignantly takes up his cap, preparing to go.)