But the queen would not hear of it : she said it was childish and impossible ; so the carriage was got ready for her , and she started without saying a word of good-bye to anyone . The king , Benson , and the prince were not so particular , and they simply flew back to Falkenstein in the usual way , arriving there at 11.35 -- a week before her majesty . The king at once held a Court ; the horns and tail of the monster were exhibited amidst general interest , and Benson and the prince were invited to state their claims . Benson 's evidence was taken first . He declined to say exactly where or how he killed the Firedrake . There might be more of them left , he remarked , -- young ones , that would take a lot of killing , -- and he refused to part with his secret . Only he claimed the reward , which was offered , if you remember , not to the man who killed the beast , but to him wha brought its horns and tail . This was allowed by the lawyers present to be very sound law ; and Benson was cheered by the courtiers , who decidedly preferred him to Prigio , and who , besides , thought he was going to be crown prince . As for Lady Molinda , she was torn by the most painful feelings ; for , much as she hated Prigio , she could not bear the idea of marrying Benson . Yet one or the other choice seemed certain . Unhappy lady ! Perhaps no girl was ever more strangely beset by misfortune ! Prince Prigio was now called on to speak . He admitted that the reward was offered for bringing the horns and tail , not for killing the monster . But were the king 's intentions to go for nothing ? When a subject only meant well , of course he had to suffer ; but when a king said one thing , was he not to be supposed to have meant another ? Any fellow with a waggon could bring the horns and tail ; the difficult thing was to kill the monster . If Benson 's claim was allowed , the royal prerogative of saying one thing and meaning something else was in danger . On hearing this argument , the king so far forgot himself as to cry , `` Bravo , well said ! '' and to clap his hands , whereon all the courtiers shouted and threw up their hats .
The prince then said that whoever had killed the monster could , of XXXXX , tell where to find him , and could bring his hoofs .
choice course feelings law man monster prerogative prince tail thing