you." She was struck with surprise at the beauty and grace of the young page, and, as he was a stranger to her, she supposed he was in the service of Grognon. "How long is it," said she, "since the king admitted you into the number of his pages?" "I am not the king's page, madam," he replied; "I am yours, and will be yours only." "Mine!" exclaimed Gracieuse, much astonished, "and I not know you!" "Ah, princess!" said he, "hitherto I have not dared to make myself known to you, but the misfortunes with which you are threatened by this marriage of the king oblige me to speak to you sooner than I should have done. I had resolved to leave time and attention to declare to you my passion." "How! a page!" said the princess: "a page has the assurance to tell me he loves me!—This, indeed, completes my degradation!" "Be not alarmed, beautiful Gracieuse," said he, with the most tender and respectful air; "I am Percinet, a prince sufficiently well known for his wealth and his science, to relieve you from all idea of inequality in birth and station. In merit and person I eagerly admit your superiority. I have loved you long; I have been often near you in these gardens without your perceiving me. The Fairy power bestowed upon me at my birth has been of great service in procuring me the pleasure of beholding you. I will accompany you everywhere to-day in this habit, and, I trust, not altogether without being of service to you." The princess gazed at him while he spoke, in a state of astonishment from which she could not recover. "It is you, then, handsome Percinet!" said she to him. "It is you whom I have so much wished to see, and of whom such surprising things are related! How delighted I am that you desire to be my friend! I no longer fear the wicked Grognon, since you take an interest in my fortunes." A few more words passed between them, and then Gracieuse repaired to the palace, where she found a horse ready saddled and caparisoned, which Percinet had placed in the stables, and which it was supposed must be intended for her. She mounted it, and, as it was a very spirited animal, the page took the bridle and led it, turning every minute towards the princess that he might have the pleasure of beholding her.
When the horse which had been selected for Grognon appeared beside that of Gracieuse, it looked like a drought jade,
