The members of the cabinet looked at each other, and the meeting silently adjourned. It had been conducted with the utmost secrecy, and no one else was present but an old factotum named Gando who was there to lock the doors. And Gando, who was passionately attached to Florimel, heard the duke’s word, and was very uneasy in his mind.
“So that is why,” the old man said to himself, “the duke was sharpening his knife on the grind-stone!”
When the duke had retired to his apartment Gando tiptoed noiselessly after him, and placed his feeble, dim eye close to the key-hole of the door.
What he saw froze the blood in his veins, and caused the few white hairs on his head to stand stiffly up with his great fright.
The duke was seated at his window, and the moonlight played and glittered on a long, slender knife that he held in his hand.
Old Gando’s knees knocked together, and he fled the spot. Of one thing he was very sure. Florimel without loss of time should place himself far beyond the reach of his wicked uncle. Each added moment increased the prince’s danger. Soon escape might be too late. Before he went to warn the sleeping prince he secured the bow and quiver of arrows that had been intrusted to his care by the late king. He hastily provided himself with a smock, loose cap, and long trousers of coarse cloth such as children of poor peasants wear.
With these in his trembling arms, breathless from his exertions and the great excitement under which he labored, he entered Florimel’s bedchamber, and closed the door noiselessly behind him. With his fair head resting on his curved arm, Florimel slept. Gando gave a great sigh of relief when he heard his gentle breathing. He flew to the bedside, and straightway roused the slumbering prince from his dreams.
“Oh, master, my dear young master!” he cried with his voice broken by sobs. “Rouse yourself, I beg of you, and go hence! Do not delay, or you may be too late. Your cruel uncle this very moment is plotting your death!”
Florimel sprang up in bed, and tried to rub the sleep from his eyes.