“Don’t believe what?” the Professor mumbled.
“Tch! Tch! I’ve told you a dozen times. I’ve found a Unicorn!”
“Indeed?” The Professor fumbled in his pockets till at length he found his spectacles and fixed them on his nose.
“Er – what was it, dear lady, I had to look at?” He seemed to have quite forgotten what he wanted his spectacles for.
Miss Lark sighed.
“The Unicorn!” she answered patiently.
The Professor blinked and turned his head.
“Well, well! Er – hum! Extraordinary!”
He leant forward for a closer look and the Unicorn made a thrust with his head and prodded the Professor with the end of his horn.
“You’re right!” The Professor toppled backwards. “It is – ah – hum – a Unicorn!”
“Of course it is!” scoffed the Park Keeper. “We don’t need nobody in a paper ’at to tell us that bit o’ news.”
The Professor took not the slightest notice. He was turning the pages of his book and waving a magnifying-glass.
“O. P. Q. R. S. T. U. Ah, here it is! Yes. A fabulous beast. Rarely – if ever! – seen by man. Reputed to be worth a city—”
“A city!” exclaimed the Policeman, staring. “A horse with a bit o’ bone on his head!”
“Distinguishing marks,” the Professor gabbled. “White body, tail of similar hue, and a broad brow from which a horn—”
“Yes, yes, Professor,” Miss Lark broke in. “We know what he looks like. You needn’t tell us. The question is – what shall we do with him?”
“Do?” The Professor looked over the top of his glasses. “There’s only one thing to be done, madam. We must arrange to – ah – have him stuffed!”
“Stuffed?” Miss Lark gave a little gasp. She glanced uneasily at the Unicorn and he gave her a long, reproachful stare.
“Stuffed!” cried Jane in a horrified voice.
“Stuffed!” echoed Michael squeakily. He could hardly bear to think of it.
The Princes shook their golden heads. Their eyes as they gazed at the Professor were grave and full of pity.
“Stuffed? Stuff and nonsense!” said a raucous voice, as Mr Mudge, looking redder than ever, came lumbering into the Rose Garden. “Nobody’s going to stuff an animal that might be of use to Mudge. Where is it?” he demanded loudly.
His bulgy eyes grew bulgier still as they fell on the silver shape.
“Well, I never!” He whistled softly. “Cleverest dodge I ever saw. Somebody’s glued a horn on a horse! My word – what a sideshow this will make! Who’s in charge of the beast?”
“We are,” said Florimond, Veritain and Amor.
Mr Mudge turned and surveyed the Princes.
“Out of the Circus, I see!” He grinned. “What are you – acrobats?”
The Princes smiled and shook their heads.
“Well, you can come along with the nag. Those velvet jackets are just the thing. Three meals a day and oats for the horse. And I’ll bill you as Mudge’s Unicorn and his Three Servants. Hey, back up, Neddy – look what you’re doing!”
Mr Mudge jumped sideways just in time to escape a nip from the Unicorn’s teeth.
“Here, tighten that rein!” he shouted sharply. “Take care! He’s got a nasty temper!”
“Oh, no, he hasn’t,” said Florimond quickly. “But he doesn’t care to be part of a sideshow.”
“And we’re not his servants,” said Veritain.
“It’s the other way round!” Amor added.
“Now, I want no sauciness, my lads! Just bring him along and behave yourselves. We’ve got to get him settled down before the Fair opens.”
The Unicorn tossed his silver mane.
“Begging your pardon, Mr Mudge! But that Unicorn belongs to the Zoo!”
Thump! went the Unicorn’s horn on the lawn.
“Nonsense – er – hum!” the Professor exclaimed. “He must go with me to the British Museum. And stand – ah – hum – on a pedestal for all the world to see.”
“The world can see him in his cage,” said Mr Winkle stubbornly.
“At the Fair, you mean!” Mr Mudge insisted. “The Only Unicorn in the World! Money back if not satisfied. Roll up! Roll up! Sixpence a look!”
“He belongs to the Princes!” shouted Michael.
But nobody took any notice.
The Park was ringing with many voices. People came running from all directions, all giving different advice.
“Get him a halter! Hobble his legs! Bind him! Hold him! Put him in chains!”
And the Unicorn lashed out with his hooves and swung his horn around like a sword and kept them all at a distance.
“He belongs to the Law!” the Policeman roared, raking out his baton.
“To Mudge’s Fair!” cried Mr Mudge. “Children Half-price! Babies Free!”
“To the Zoo!” squeaked the Keeper of the Zoological Gardens, waving his net in the air.
“What’s going on – an accident?” Bert, the Match Man, pushed through the crowd and sauntered into the Rose Garden.
At the sight of his calm and cheerful face, Jane gave a sigh of relief.
“Oh, help us, please!” She ran to him. “They’re trying to take the Unicorn.”
“The what?” said the Match Man, very surprised. He glanced at the little group by the fountain and gave a sudden start. A look of joy spread over his face as he sprang across the lawn.
“Gently, boy, gently! Easy does it!” He seized the Unicorn by the mane and held out the apple he was munching. The Unicorn lowered his tossing head, sniffed enquiringly at the outstretched hand and then, with a sigh of satisfaction, he gobbled up the core.
The Match Man gave him a friendly slap. Then he turned to the Princes with a loving look and, falling upon one knee, kissed Florimond’s hand.
There was a sudden silence in the Rose Garden. Everybody stared.
“What’s the matter with Bert?” the Park Keeper muttered. “’E must ’ave gorn mad!”
For the Match Man had turned to Veritain and Amor and was kissing their hands too.
“Welcome, my Princes!” he said softly. “I am happy to see you again!”
“Princes, indeed!” the Policeman exploded. “A set of rascals, that’s what they are. I found them loitering in the Park in wrongful possession of a fabbilous animal. And I’m taking it in charge!”
“What, that?” The Match Man glanced at the Unicorn and laughed as he shook his head. “You wouldn’t be able to catch him, Egbert. He isn’t your sort of animal. And what’s a Unicorn, anyway, compared with the three of them?”
He turned to the Princes with outstretched arms.
“They’ve forgotten us, Bert,” said Florimond sadly.
“Well, you won’t forget me in a hurry,” the Policeman put in grimly. “Move away, Bert, you’re obstructing the Law. Now, bring that Unicorn along and follow me, all three!”
“Don’t you go, lads,” urged Mr Mudge. “Just slip along to the Fair Ground and you and horsie will be treated proper.”