‘He was probably one of the Sorcerer’s spies,’ answered Raphael.
‘Do you really think so?’
‘Yes.’
‘I wonder how much he discovered?’ mused the Equerry. ‘I couldn’t find out from the other fish. Some said one thing and some another.’
Just then the President swam up. He loomed dark and indistinct, stirring up the phosphorus in the water which shone about him like moonlight around the edges of a black cloud.
‘If you will spend the night with us, while the Navy drives that monster from the Sea, I will show you many wonderful things,’ he urged Raphael. ‘I know deep valleys in which all sorts of curious fish live, fish with no eyes, fish with windows in their stomachs, fish who light up the pits of the Sea with their own lanterns, besides numerous other serpents and sea beasts.’
For a moment Raphael was tempted to stay and see these wonders. Then he thought of Cassandra and gave up the idea. He was turning to bid the President good-bye, when a small needlefish darted up.
‘Mr. President,’ whistled the needlefish, ‘Admiral Sawfish has sent me with dispatches informing you that the enemy who invaded the Council Chamber has entirely disappeared.’ And he handed Mr. Right Whale a bundle of tightly rolled seaweed.
Raphael was worried.
‘Mr. President,’ he implored, ‘will you help me? The Sorcerer may have been warned already of our plans to get into the castle.’