For a day and a half he sat
apart and brooded, and every one thought he was debating
within himself the question of the young prince's death or
pardon; as a matter of fact he was merely thinking out the
manner of the boys death. As the thing had to be done, and
was bound to attract an enormous amount of public attention
in any case, it was as well to make it as spectacular and
impressive as possible.
`` `Apart from his unfortunate taste in religions,' said
the king, `and his obstinacy in adhering to it, he is a
sweet and pleasant youth, therefore it is meet and fitting
that he should be done to death by the winged envoys of
sweetness.'
`` `Your Majesty means---?' said the Royal Librarian.
`` `I mean,' said the king, `that he shall be stung to
death by bees. By the royal bees, of course.'
`` `A most elegant death,' said the Librarian.
`` `Elegant and spectacular, and decidedly painful,' said
the king; `it fulfills all the conditions that could be
wished for.'
``The king himself thought out all the details of the
execution ceremony. Vespaluus was to be stripped of his
clothes, his hands were to be bound behind him, and he was
then to be slung in a recumbent position immediately above
three of the largest of the royal beehives, so that the
least movement of his body would bring him in jarring
contact with them.
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