Autor leans back. "He is rather bitter, isn't he?"

The masked man stands up. "I remember this farm boy of yours, I think. This would be what, five years ago?" he says. "Does it bother you to hear?"

"Nothing you say will upset me," Buttercup says, her eyes glazed with tears.

"He died well, that should please you," the Dread Pirate says, folding his arms. "No bribe attempts or blubbering. He simply said, 'Please. Please, I need to live.' T'was the please that caught my memory. I asked him what was so important for him. 'True love,' he replied. Then he spoke of a girl of surpassing beauty and faithfulness--I can only assume he meant you. You should bless me for destroying him before he found out what you really are."

Buttercup stands. "And what am I?"

"Faithfulness he talked of, madam, your enduring faithfulness," Dread Pirate Roberts says. "Now tell me truly, when you found out he was gone did you get engaged to your prince in the same hour or did you wait a whole week out of respect for the dead?"

"You mocked me once, never do it again! I died that day!" Buttercup says, and the masked man turns his head to see Humperdinck's approaching horse.

Buttercup snarls. "You can die, too, for all I care!" she says, and shoves Dread Pirate Roberts down the cliff.

"As... you... wish!" the masked man calls as he tumbles down the cliff side.

"Ohhh," Autor says, with a quick smile. "That was clever."