“ ‘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 fulfils all the conditions that could be wished for.’