“Very true,” croaked the Raven. “The last stands in a hou make good stories, but nothing ever came of them. After their first few repuls the enemy always t the hou on fire.”
“I am the cau of all this,” said Susan, bursting into tears. “Oh, if only I had never left Cair Paravel. Our last happy day was before tho ambassadors came from en. The Moles were planting an orchard for us ... oh ... oh.”
And she buried her fa her hands and sobbed.
“Ce, Su, ce,” said Edmund. “Remember — but what is the matter with you, Master Tumnus?” For the Faun was holding both his horns with his hands as if he were trying to keep his head on by them and writhing to and fro as if he had a pain in his inside.
“Don’t speak to me, don’t speak to me,” said Tumnus. “I’m thinking. I’m thinking so that I hardly breathe. Wait, wait, do wait.”
There was a moment’s puzzled silend then the Faun looked up, drew a long breath, mopped its forehead and said：
“The only difficulty is how to get down to our ship — with some stores, too — without being en and stopped.”
“Yes,” said a Dwarf dryly. “Just as the beggar’s only difficulty about riding is that he has no hor.”
“Wait, wait,” said Mr Tumnus impatiently. “All we need is some pretext foing down to our ship today and taking stuff on board.”
“Yes,” said King Edmund doubtfully.
“Well, then,” said the Faun, “how would it be if your majesties bade the Prio a great bao be held on board our own galleon, the Spendour Hyaliomorrow night? Ahe message be worded as graciously as the Queen trive without pledging her honour： so as to give the Prince a hope that she is weakening.”
“This is very good l, Sire,” croaked the Raven.
“And then,” tiumedly, “everyone will expect us to be going down to the ship all day, making preparations for uests. A some of us go to the bazaars and spend every minim we have at the fruiterers and the sweetmeat llers and the wine merts, just as we would if we were really giving a feast. A us is and jugglers and dang girls and flute players, all to be on board tomorrow night.”
“I e, I e,” said King Edmund, rubbing his hands.