We have just told you of the unusual things that took place that morning. Now we will go back a bit and tell you about the night before. As you know, it was also most unusual.
That night Prospero the Gunsmith escaped from the Palace of the Three Fat Men. That night Suok was captured.
That night three men with covered lanterns entered the bedroom of Tutti the Heir.
This happened about an hour after Prospero the Gunsmith wrecked the Palace bakery and the Guards captured Suok beside the bottomless pot.
It was dark in the bedroom.
The tall windows were full of stars.
The boy was sound asleep, breathing deeply and evenly.
The three men did their best to cover the light of their lanterns.
There was no telling what they were doing.
But there was a sound of whispering in the room.
The sentry on guard outside the bedroom door did not look as if anything out of the ordinary was going on.
Therefore, the three men in the bedroom must have had a right to be there.
You already know that the young Heir's tutors were not very brave.
Remember how terrified one of them was when the Guards stuck their swords into the doll in the Palace park?
And how scared he was when he had to tell the Three Fat Men about it?
This time the tutor on duty was just as cowardly as the others.
He was in the bedroom when the three strangers entered, carrying their covered lanterns.
He was sitting at the window, guarding Tutti the Heir's sleep, and to keep awake he was counting the stars to brush up on his astronomy.
Then the door creaked, there was a flash of light, and three mysterious shadows flitted by.
The tutor crouched down in the big armchair.
He was very much afraid that his long nose would give him away.
Indeed, it was clearly outlined against the star-filled window and was very noticeable.
But the coward kept his spirits up by hoping that the men would think it was part of the carved arm of the chair, or part of the roof of the building opposite.
The three men went over to Tutti the Heir's bed. They were barely visible in the dim light cast by their lanterns.
"Right," one of them whispered.
"He's sleeping," another answered.
"Shhh!"
"That's all right.
He's sound asleep."
"Let's get to work, then."
Something tinkled.
The tutor broke out in a cold sweat.
He was sure his nose was getting longer from fright.
"Ready," one of the shadows hissed.
"Let's have it."
Something tinkled again. There was the sound of liquid gurgling as it was poured.
Then everything was silent again.
"Where does it go?"
"Into his ear."
"His head is sideways on the pillow.
That'll make it easier.
Pour it into his ear."
"Be careful!
One drop at a time."
"Just ten drops.
The first will seem very cold, but it starts working right away, so he won't even feel the second one.
He won't feel a thing after the first drop."
"Try to get it in quickly, so the second drop goes in right after the first."
"Otherwise he'll wake up from the icy cold."
"Shhh.