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Sween Myth-tery of Life :: Asprin Robert
Страница: 12 из 110I wouldn't dream of interfering in Skeeve's personal life before or after we're married, any more than I'd expect him to interfere in mine. As long as he does the heir thing to keep the rabble happy, it doesn't really matter to me what he does with the rest of his time."
I really didn't like the way this conversation was going, and hastened to change the subject.
"You said you were looking for me, Your Majesty?"
"Oh yes," the Queen said, releasing her hold on Bunny's hands. "I wanted to tell you that Grimble was waiting to see you at your earliest convenience. I told him that you'd be giving him a hand straightening out the kingdom's finances, and he's ready to give you whatever information or assistance you need.
Somehow, that didn't sound like the J. R. Grimble I knew, but I let it slide for the moment.
"Very well. We'll be along presently." "Of course." The Queen smiled, winking at me again. "Well, I'll just be running along then."
As she reached the door, she paused to sweep Bunny once more with a lingering gaze. "Charming," she said. "You really are to be congratulated, Skeeve."
There was an uncomfortable silence after the Queen left. Finally, I cleared my throat.
"I'm sorry about that, Bunny. I guess she just assumed ..."
"That's the woman you're supposed to marry?" Bunny said as if I hadn't spoken.
"Well, it's what she wants, but I'm still thinking it over."
"And if somebody kills her, you'd feel you had to take over running the kingdom?"
"Uh ... well, yes."
There was something in Bunny's voice I didn't like. I also found myself remembering that while she had never met royalty before, her uncle was none other than Don Bruce, the Mob's Fairy Godfather, and that she was used to an entirely different brand of power politics.
"I see" Bunny said thoughtfully, then she broke into her usual smile. "Well, I guess we'd better go and see Grimble and find out what kind of a mess we're really in."
"Okay. Sure," I said, glad that the crisis had passed ... if only for the moment.
"Just one question, Skeeve."
"Yes, Bunny?"
"How do you feel about 'the heir thing' as her majesty so graciously put it?"
"I don't know," I admitted. "I guess I don't mind."
"You don't?"
"Not really. I just don't understand what having a haircut has to do with being a royal consort."
Chapter Three:
"A good juggler can always find work."
L. PACCIOLJ
J. R. GRIMBLE, CHANCELLOR of the Exchequer for the kingdom of Possiltum, had changed little since I first met him.
I really didn't like the way this conversation was going, and hastened to change the subject.
"You said you were looking for me, Your Majesty?"
"Oh yes," the Queen said, releasing her hold on Bunny's hands. "I wanted to tell you that Grimble was waiting to see you at your earliest convenience. I told him that you'd be giving him a hand straightening out the kingdom's finances, and he's ready to give you whatever information or assistance you need.
Somehow, that didn't sound like the J. R. Grimble I knew, but I let it slide for the moment.
"Very well. We'll be along presently." "Of course." The Queen smiled, winking at me again. "Well, I'll just be running along then."
As she reached the door, she paused to sweep Bunny once more with a lingering gaze. "Charming," she said. "You really are to be congratulated, Skeeve."
There was an uncomfortable silence after the Queen left. Finally, I cleared my throat.
"I'm sorry about that, Bunny. I guess she just assumed ..."
"That's the woman you're supposed to marry?" Bunny said as if I hadn't spoken.
"Well, it's what she wants, but I'm still thinking it over."
"And if somebody kills her, you'd feel you had to take over running the kingdom?"
"Uh ... well, yes."
There was something in Bunny's voice I didn't like. I also found myself remembering that while she had never met royalty before, her uncle was none other than Don Bruce, the Mob's Fairy Godfather, and that she was used to an entirely different brand of power politics.
"I see" Bunny said thoughtfully, then she broke into her usual smile. "Well, I guess we'd better go and see Grimble and find out what kind of a mess we're really in."
"Okay. Sure," I said, glad that the crisis had passed ... if only for the moment.
"Just one question, Skeeve."
"Yes, Bunny?"
"How do you feel about 'the heir thing' as her majesty so graciously put it?"
"I don't know," I admitted. "I guess I don't mind."
"You don't?"
"Not really. I just don't understand what having a haircut has to do with being a royal consort."
Chapter Three:
"A good juggler can always find work."
L. PACCIOLJ
J. R. GRIMBLE, CHANCELLOR of the Exchequer for the kingdom of Possiltum, had changed little since I first met him.