“How blesd is en,” said the Vizier, popping up his face again, “on who ruler the gods have beeo bestow prudend circumspe！ Yet as the irrefutable and sapient Tisroc has said it is very grievous to be straio keep our hands off such a dainty dish as Narnia. Gifted was that poet who said —” but at this point Ahoshta noticed an impatient movement of the Prioe and became suddenly silent.
“It is very grievous,” said the Tisro his deep, quiet voice. “Every m the sun is darkened in my eyes, and every night my sleep is the less refreshing, becau I remember that Narnia is still free.”
“O my father,” said Rabadash. “How if I show you a way by which you stretch out your arm to take Narnia a draw it baharmed if the attempt prove unfortunate?”
“If you show me that, O Rabadash,” said the Tisroc, “you will be the best of sons.”
“Hear then, O father. This very night and in this hour I will take but two hundred hors and ride across the dert. And it shall em to all men that you know nothing of my going. On the I shall be at the gates of King Lune’s castle of Anvard in Arland. They are at peace with us and unprepared and I shall take Anvard before they have bestirred themlves. Then I will ride through the pass above Anvard and down through Narnia to Cair Paravel. The High King will not be there; when I left them he was already preparing a raid against the giants on his northern border. I shall find Cair Paravel, most likely with open gates, and ride in. I shall exerci prudend courtesy and spill as little Narnian blood as I . And what then remains but to sit there till the Splendour Hyalis in, with Queen Susan on board, catch my strayed bird as she ts foot ashore, swing her into the saddle, and then, ride, ride, ride back to Anvard?”