'That we must contrive,' answered Curdie. 'I know how to take care
of the wine; but for his food - now we must think.'
'He takes hardly any,' said the princess, with a pathetic shake of
her little head which Curdie had almost learned to look for.
'The more need,' he replied, 'there should be no poison in it.'
Irene shuddered. 'As soon as he has honest food he will begin to
grow better. And you must be just as careful with yourself,
Princess,' Curdie went on, 'for you don't know when they may begin
to poison you, too.'
'There's no fear of me; don't talk about me,' said Irene. 'The
good food! How are we to get it, Curdie? That is the whole
question.'
'I am thinking hard,' answered Curdie. 'The good food? Let me see
- let me see! Such servants as I saw below are sure to have the
best of everything for themselves: I will go an see what I can find
on their table.'
'The chancellor sleeps in the house, and he and the master of the
king's horse always have their supper together in a room off the
great hall, to the right as you go down the stairs,' said Irene.
'I would go with you, but I dare not leave my father. Alas! He
scarcely ever takes more than a mouthful. I can't think how he
lives! And the very thing he would like, and often asks for - a
bit of bread - I can hardly ever get for him: Dr Kelman has
forbidden it, and says it is nothing less than poison to him.
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