If he has been amused, it would be but a gracious act to loan the book to a friend that he also may be amused; if he has been entertained, the part of the host is unfulfilled unless he also entertain his guests. If, however, he be disgusted, he may wreak his vengeance by loaning the book to some one against whom he has a grudge.
My pleasure has been conserved in the occupation of writing these lines; for it is somewhat of a relief to have such a quantity of material off my mind; but I sincerely shall regret it should it rest heavily on the mind of another; therefore, if such a consummation come, do as I have done—tell the stories to others.
Craving suspension of punishment for this diversion from the adventures, I return to them.
I found myself passing through the outer wall of the palace enclosure, and discovered a number of women on the lawn, of whom I made bold to inquire if the princess were at home. They nodded assent. I then put another question, as to where I might have the honor of kneeling in her presence, and they looked at me with wondering eyes. I was, for the first time in my life, somewhat abashed, and one of the maids went so far in taking pity on me that she told me the princess was in her secret chamber.
I had hoped my troubles were at end, and still I could not comprehend very serious difficulties could cross me in learning the whereabouts of this secret chamber, now that I was within the very walls of the palace and at liberty to do as I pleased within the restrictions of the rules.
So, I looked about me and observed several doors through either of which I might enter. They were all alike with a single exception; a pair of wrens had built a nest upon the arch of one of them, and through this arch I made my way, for did I not pass beneath an emblem of love in so doing?
The passage, for a distance, was dark and narrow, then widening into a spacious and well-lighted hallway. I then came to a rotunda, out of which were several passages, each of which I inspected most carefully, as I did not intend to fail at this close proximity to the goal.
One of them was floored and walled with red-hot bricks for such a distance even if I ran with my greatest speed I should perish by their heat before I reached the end; and yet, I was positive this was the way to the secret chamber.
There was a splendid fountain playing into a large basin in the center of the rotunda, and to this I made my way. I could remember nothing in the rules that forbade my wetting myself most thoroughly; indeed, had there been I had broken them already. I therefore lay down in the basin until I was completely saturated. I also soaked my mantle and wrapped it about my head, leaving but a small hole through which I could keep my direction. Dripping with moisture I made a dash for the heated passage, ran with my utmost speed through it; but so hot was it, when I had reached the end of it, I was as dry as a bone, but not even a hair was scorched.