“You must go down to the river and bathe your hands,” answered Kitey. “Nothing but running water will remove the deadly odor of the toad. Here is my lantern-box,” and he tossed the box at Harry’s feet.
The boy picked up the box in his handkerchief, so as not to infect it with the odor, and hastened down to the underground river, where he washed his hands, and then went back to the Reception Hall.
Then he directed some of the elves to go down to the lake and take the Gnomes across to their own country, and then bring all of the ships back again.
“Now, Prince,” said Wamby, “I have given orders for a grand royal banquet to be prepared. Meanwhile, let us go to my private apartments and rest awhile.”
Harry had not as yet seen that part of the Pin Elf dominions where the elves lived, and his eyes fairly hung out with astonishment as Wamby opened a number of doors and gave him glimpses of the luxurious private rooms of the Lord of the Safety-Pin, the Grand Prime Minister, the Knights of the Breast-Pin, and others of the nobility.
But, of course, none of them could compare with the richness and splendor of the royal apartments. In three of these rooms the floor and walls were of pure gold. The first was the well-known green-and-gold room, where the King ordinarily held his court and dealt out justice; here was contained the famous couch cut from a single emerald. Next came the blue-and-gold room, with its lovely turquoises and pale blue silk hangings. Then, last, came the purple-and-gold room, where few were permitted to enter. It was lighted by the great royal amethyst that once belonged to the King of the Gnomes. On the floor a soft couch had been formed of many purple rugs for Harry’s repose, and the boy was very willing to throw himself down upon it, after his arduous labors.
Presently little Kitey entered the apartment, accompanied by Smithkin. The soldier, with some embarrassment, bowed low to Wamby, and said, “Your Majesty, I have come to ask pardon for having turned traitor, and also to restore to Prince Harry these jewels he gave me as a bribe.”
He held out to Harry the three jewels, but the boy exclaimed, “Keep them, old chap; you have more than earned them by your bravery.”
“You have also earned pardon for your former treachery,” said King Wamby, with a gracious smile. “Here is the reward I promised for the recovery of my hat,” handing him a rich jewel and a small gold hat-pin, “and I hereby restore you to your old position as commander of my body-guard.”
When Smithkin had retired, Harry turned to Kitey and exclaimed, “I say, little chap, why on earth didn’t you tell me the Gnomes were afraid of the toad?”