Slung over one
shoulder was a leather bag, and in his hand was a curious sort of a
tool.
"The Master Professor Knops has the honor of saluting Prince Leo
Lazybones," was the way in which this extraordinary person introduced
himself, making at the same time a deep bow and a military salute, but
with no raising of the cap from which the little lantern gleamed with a
bright blue flame. Leo returned the salutation with a lazy grace,
smiling curiously upon the queer little object before him, who proceeded
to say:
"And now let us go; I lead--you follow."
"Forward, then," responded Leo, rising from his lounging attitude.
The elf went nimbly down the corridor, as if accustomed to it, and
paused before a door which led to a flight of stone steps.
"Are you going down cellar?" asked Leo, who knew where the stairs led.
"I am," replied Knops; "but these huge doors and heavy hinges bother me.
Be so good as to open and close them for me. By-the-way, you may get
hungry; shall we find food down here?"
"Perhaps so," said Leo, following, and doing as requested.
They went down step after step, and it was wonderful how much light came
from that little blue flame.
On skipped the elf, his gown puffing out, his nailed boots pattering
over the stones, and Leo found himself quite breathless when they
reached the cellar, so unused was he to any rapidity of movement.
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