“Courtmanners, courtmanners,” sneeredNikabrik.“—andheknowsthatthisTelmarineboywillbekingofnowhereandnobodyinaweekunlesswecanhelphimoutofthetrapinwhichhesits.”
“Perhaps,” saidCornelius, “yournewfriendswouldliketospeakforthemselves? Youthere, whoandwhatareyou?”
“WorshipfulMasterDoctor,” cameathin, whiningvoice.“Sopleaseyou, I'monlyapooroldwoman, Iam, andveryobligedtohisWorshipfulDwarfshipforhisfriendship, I', blesshishandsomeface, hasnoneedtobeafraidofanoldwomanthat'snearlydoubledupwiththerheumaticsandhasn'—notlikeyours, MasterDoctor, ofcourse—insmallspellsandcantripsthatI' '.”
“Thatisallmostinterestingand—er—satisfactory,” saidDoctorCornelius.“IthinkInowknowwhatyouare, , Nikabrik, wouldgivesomeaccountofhimself?”
Adull, grayvoiceatwhichPeter'sfleshcreptreplied, “I'mhunger.I', IholdtillIdie, andevenafterdeaththeymustcutoutmymouthfulfrommyenemy'.”
“Anditisinthepresenceofthesetwothatyouwishtodiscloseyourplan?” saidCaspian.
“Yes,” saidNikabrik.“AndbytheirhelpthatImeantoexecuteit.”
.
“Well, Nikabrik,” hesaid, “wewillhearyourplan.”
TherewasapausesolongthattheboysbegantowonderifNikabrikwasevergoingtobegin; whenhedid, itwasinalowervoice, asifhehimselfdidnotmuchlikewhathewassaying.
“Allsaidanddone,” hemuttered, “, theneithertheyhavenotheardus, ortheycannotcome, ortheyareourenemies—”
“Ortheyareontheway,” putinTrufflehunter.
“, wehavetriedonelinkinthechainofoldlegends, , ?”
“IfyoumeanAslan,” saidTrufflehunter, “it' (butImakenodoubthewill), ishemorelikelytocomehimself?”
