When the king and his
people again turned their wondering eyes upon the prince he was wiping
his hands carefully upon a silk handkerchief.
At this sight a pretty young girl, who stood near the throne, laughed
aloud, and the sound of her laughter made King Terribus very angry.
"Come here!" he commanded, sternly. The girl stepped forward, her
face now pale and frightened, while tear-drops trembled upon the
lashes that fringed her downcast eyes. "You have dared to laugh at
the humiliation of your king," said Terribus, his horrid face more
crimson than ever, "and as atonement I command that you drink of the
poisoned cup."
Instantly a dwarf came near, bearing a beautiful golden goblet in his
crooked hands.
"Drink!" he said, an evil leer upon his face.
The girl well knew this goblet contained a vile poison, one drop of
which on her tongue would cause death; so she hesitated, trembling and
shrinking from the ordeal.
Prince Marvel looked into her sweet face with pitying eyes, and
stepping quickly to her side, took her hand in his.
"Now drink!" he said, smiling upon her; "the poison will not hurt you."
She drank obediently, while the dwarf chuckled with awful glee and the
king looked on eagerly, expecting her to fall dead at his feet.
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