“Violence to the bloodhound seemed futile, and mutilation as bad. If Sunset was destined for an indefinite period to grasp a piece of flesh, it seemed best that it should be alive. The dog, however, would require exercise—an obviously delicate business, since the sleeping princess must accompany it upon its rambles.
“ ‘The dog,’ said the King, ‘must be duly tended and controlled. Who’s to do it?’
“ ‘Nothing doing,’ said the Lord Chamberlain. ‘I’d rather resign. The brute jolly near had me when we were going upstairs.’
“ ‘He never did like me,’ said the Comptroller hurriedly. ‘Always growls when I pass.’
“ ‘That’s nothing to go by,’ said the King. ‘Heaps of dogs——’
“ ‘It’s good enough for me,’ said the Comptroller shortly.
“ ‘The truth is,’ said the Treasurer, ‘that he’s not a nice dog. There’s only one man who ever has got on with him, and that’s the Master of the Horse.’
“ ‘But I’ve just fired him,’ said the King. ‘Besides, he’s got off with Sunset. That’s what I fired him for.’
“Here the door was opened, and a servant put in his head.
“ ‘Excuse me, sir,’ he said, ‘but I think the dog wants to go out.’