“You may feel secure, my lord,” replied Christo. “If you puzzled me, who have known you since you were no bigger than this bunch of grapes, you will quite confound the rest.”
“‘Tis well. I shall stay here a day or two, in order to give them an opportunity to prepare for my reception. In the meantime, it is necessary to send on a courier at once. You must manage all this for me, Christo. How are your daughters?”
“So, so, please your Highness,” replied Christo. “A man with seven daughters has got trouble for every day in the week.”
“But not when they are so pretty as yours are!”
“Poh! poh! handsome is that handsome does; and as for Alexina, she wants to be married.”
“Very natural. Let her marry, by all means.”
“But Helena wants to do the same.”
“More natural still; for, if possible, she is prettier. For my part, I could marry them both.”
“Ay, ay! that is all very well; but handsome is that handsome does. I have no objection to Alexina marrying, and even Helena; but then there is Lais—”
“Hah! hah! hah!” exclaimed the prince. “I see, my dear Christo, that my foster sisters give you a very proper portion of trouble. However, I must be off to my travelling companion. Come in as soon as you can, my dear fellow, and will settle everything. A good vintage to you, and only as much mischief as necessary.” So saying, the prince tripped away.