king. "He is your property. You caught him yourself. We should never
have done it."
The queen laughed. She seemed in far better humor than the night
before.
"I was about to say," she resumed, "that it does seem a pity to waste so
much fresh meat."
"What are you thinking of, my love?" said the king. "The very notion of
starving him implies that we are not going to give him any meat, either
salt or fresh."
"I'm not such a stupid as that comes to," returned her Majesty. "What I
mean is, that by the time he is starved, there will hardly be a picking
upon his bones."
The king gave a great laugh.
"Well, my spouse, you may have him when you like," he said. "I don't
fancy him for my part. I am pretty sure he is tough eating."
"That would be to honor instead of punish his insolence," returned the
Madhuri Noah
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