‘Not yet.’
‘Then why on earth not?’
‘She said she had to wait for the consent of the Council.’
‘Why didn’t you eat her?’ said Magog sleepily; and then, without waiting for an answer, he curled himself up close to the fire and went to sleep.
But the old witch went on:
‘Well, and what are your plans now?’
‘I’m going back to-morrow morning, and I’m going to take old Magog and pretend that he’s my prisoner of war, and then the stupid old Council will say I’ve done a service to the State, and they will give me the hand of the Princess for my pains.’
‘But supposing they don’t?’
‘Then I shall cut them all to pieces, and kill the Princess, and make myself king by force—for you see nothing can cut through my armour, except one thing.’
‘And what’s that?’ asked the witch.