Before this, however, a banquet was given in his honor, and at this Count Snarlitz changed his manner in the most marked way, and paid the giant the most profound deference, indulging in compliments at times so extreme as to be offensive.
Before the guests had arisen from the board the Prime-minister, in the course of conversation, said: "If it please your Majesty, I look upon it as most fortunate that this gallant gentleman is one who is able to render a most marked service to the state. He is the only one, I think, who has the courage and the power to face and destroy the powerful dragon of the reservoir."
"No, no!" said the Princess Amber, instantly; "that is too perilous."
"Nay, daughter," said the King, "let us hear what the Count himself has to say on the matter."
Gofaster hesitated a moment. His cap, which had already given him such trusty counsel, had been removed, and he could not replace it in the King's presence; but his embarrassment was at once relieved. A hollow laugh at his elbow told him that his invisible friend, the Phooka, was there, and he heard a voice unheard by the others, which said to him, "Accept for a week hence."
Then Gofaster arose, and bowing to the King, said, "In a week from this time, with your Majesty's permission, I shall undertake the adventure."
To his great delight, the giant saw the Princess turn pale at this announcement, and his heart beat high with hope. But after the banquet was over, and he had taken his leave, he felt that he had done a rash thing.
"How shall I be able," he said, "to face, much less to overcome, this terrible Slander, whose breath is poison to all who confront it."
"Easily enough," said the voice of the Phooka in his ear. "There is a little herb called truth, which grows in out-of-the-way places, and I can lead you to it. Mix that with honey, of which the dragon is extremely fond, and which he can scent at some distance. He will not detect the mixture, but eat the honey greedily, and the truth in it will kill him."