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“For htened considerably, his whiskers rising with pleasure “AlWhat is it,man?”

“Eyvind wants to kno old”

The Marsh King furrowed his great brow and peered at the sky “I can’t say that I know a chap by that name,” he admitted sadly

“He… he used to be a bear You made him a man?” The Prince was suddenly e as a stone plaque when the tavern-keeper told it Yet the elderly th his face lit up like a festival lantern

“Oh!” he cried “The astrologer-bear! Of course! Well, you know, not too et home to your Witch-woman Perhaps not I don’t exactly keep an als, you know And why should I? I am quite the master of my own shape And now that that is answered, what in the world could you ith my dear friend Beast?”

“I… I need his skin To restore a maiden to life It was I who killed her, so I owe her the remedy”

“Oh,” said the King distastefully, “how vile of you What a disgusting operation you propose Absolutely out of the question”

“Now,” a deep voice like bellows squeezed by maht not to speak for me when I am not present It is quite rude”

Across the long swamps caht against the sky The ss of the wind—the s under the sun, in well buckets and wine casks, china vases and reed baskets, the hot, coppery s

But his hide was strangely beautiful, the color of dark, secret rubies and garnets scattered on the snow And his antlers towered like turrets ar forest His great jaw hung slightly open, revealing the shock of white bone On powerful haunches helike flint within the endless black

“Certainly, my dear Monarch, I can take care of my own affairs?” he intoned

“Of course, Beast, I meant no offense Dispatch him at your leisure”

“Oh, none taken, old boy And I wouldn’t drea all over your jurisdiction After you,” Beast yielded

“Oh, no, after you” The Marsh King bowed at the waist

“I insist”