To his intense surprise the small creature immediately replied, in a shrill but by no means unpleasant voice:—
"I came to see you, Mr. Zac, and to tell you the latest news."
"To see me!" exclaimed the astonished boy. "Well, you must be the best mouse that ever was born to come and take pity upon a poor prisoner like me. And since you can talk so well, perhaps you will kindly inform me what news it is you have to tell."
"King Fridolin is very, very angry with you, Mr. Zac," replied the mouse.
"Unfortunately, my little darling, that is no news at all," rejoined the boy; "I knew it, to my cost, some hours ago, and it is for that very reason that you find me here."
"But," continued the mouse, "he is so angry that he is determined to punish you with the most terrible punishment ever known, and is only doubting now whether you shall be thrown into the adder-pit, or stripped, smeared with honey and tied to a tree to amuse the wasps and flies."
The poor boy shuddered at these words; but, recovering his firmness immediately, rejoined:—
"Whatever it be, it will be in a good cause that I shall suffer, and I must bear it as best I may."
The mouse went on:—
"You really ought not to have tried to kiss the Princess Concaterina, Mr. Zac," she said.