a joy to him to kill me that I really cannot allow him. Indeed, I
have always hoped to kill Anko. I have now been three thousand six
hundred and forty-two years, eleven months and nine days figuring
out a plan to destroy old Anko, and as yet I have not discovered a
way."

"I'd give it up, if I were you," advised Trot. "Don't you think you
could get some fun out of trying to be good?"

"No!" cried Zog, and his voice was not so soft as before. "Listen,
Aquareine, you and your attendants shall be prisoners in this castle
until I can manage to stop you from living. Rooms will be placed at
your disposal, and I wish you to go to them at o nce, as I am tired
of looking at you."

"You're no more tired than we are," remarked Trot. "It's lucky you
can't see yourself, Zog."

He turned his glowing eyes full upon her. "The worst of my queer
body I keep concealed," he said. "If ever you see it, you will
scream with terror." He touched a bell beside him, and the girl was
surprised to find how clearly its tones rang out through the water.
In an instant the boy Sacho appeared and bowed low before his
dreadful master. "Take the mermaids and the child to the Rose
Chamber," commanded Zog, "and take the old man-fish to the Peony
Room."

Sacho turned to obey. "Are the outer passages well guarded?" asked
the monster.