Percy had found some pictures of the golden boat while thumbing through an old Italian tome . Here we are in the most beautiful city in all of Europe and he has been sitting in his room reading books . The book told of how Buffoni Ladroncello built a business recovering the sunken ships for the local merchants who had lost all their goods . The Ladroncellos were much celebrated and the Ladroncellos claim they were given a giant golden ring by the populace as thanks — the ring which is that stunning centerpiece of the ballroom !
At that time the Mayor stood at the top of the dais and gathered the attention of the dancers assembled .
" I am pleased , beyond all proportion ," he said , " to now introduce you to our guest of honor , and the man who saved my life on many occasions during my trip , our hero , the Duc de Longueville ."
I began to clap with the rest of the audience , wondering who the man could be who saved the Mayor ’ s life . He had surely never mentioned him on the trip . But then Percy stood up and joined the Mayor , and I admit I was quite confused , but I stood with him .
The Mayor indicated Percy and continued , " Perseus Longueville ."
It was the French pronunciation of his name ! The indignity ! But did my ears hear correctly ? Did he say Duke ?
" Thank you ," said Percy . " There was really something else I wanted to do tonight , and I was reading a romantic novel earlier wherein it stated that any girl would be incredibly lucky to be loved and proposed to at such a highly public event as a ball !"
Percy then knelt on one knee before me . The guests gasped . I was stunned ! " Missus Philomena Dashwood ," he began , getting my address of title quite wrong in front of all of the assembled guests . But I was preoccupied with the Mayor calling him Duke . Had Percy
been a Duke this whole time ? This is what comes of not having a proper introduction ! I knew it would be a problem from the moment we met !
" It has been my pleasure to know you for the past few months ," Percy continued . " I did not know that I would ever meet anyone who could bring me out of my shell , who could make me see the importance of being an active part of the world around me , someone who showed me love when I was at my lowest , and was happy to see me whenever reunited . I love you . I love you more than I thought was possible . Philomena Dashwood , will you be my Missus , and my wife , forever ?” Percy produced a ring . And it was right at that moment that the world began to shake . I thought at first it was an earthquake , but not a single Italian guest was stepping out place . I wondered if they did not realize that the palace could be shaken down around our ears ?
I took a quick few steps away from the dais . It was a fortunate thing that I did so ; not a moment after I moved away , a tentacle fully as thick around as a stallion ' s torso broke through the gilded ceiling , smashing downward right where I had been standing . It coiled around the dais , suckers pulling at the floor . The tip twisted as though tasting the air like a serpent ' s tongue .
Someone shouted , and instantly a mass of Italian men in Ladroncello livery threw themselves at the dais . My Italian was not up to a translation , but I quickly gathered by their actions that they were attempting to rescue the giant golden ring from its display . As , indeed , they managed to do , carrying it away in joyful jubilation . The tentacle itself , having felt about the empty dais , withdrew , and the world ceased to shake .
I managed to catch the attention of The Mayor , who had begun assisting fallen dancers . " Mi scusi ," I said , spending nearly all of my Italian , and then was at a complete loss for the Italian word for ' kraken .'
" Does this ' grand calamari ' attack Venice often ?"