There was scarcely any one left to dispute the beauty of Grognon, when a young knight presented himself bearing a portrait in a diamond box. He declared that he would maintain Grognon was the ugliest of all old women, and that she whose portrait was in the box was the fairest of all young maidens. So saying, he charged the six knights and unhorsed every one of them. Six others presented themselves, and so on to the number of four-and-twenty, all of whom he overthrew. Then opening his box, he told them that, by way of consolation for their defeat, he would show them the beautiful portrait. Every one instantly recognised it to be that of the Princess Gracieuse.
The victorious knight made her a profound obeisance, and retired without making himself known, but she had not the least doubt it was Percinet. Grognon was nearly suffocated with passion; her throat swelled to such a degree that she could not utter a word. She made signs that it was Gracieuse she was enraged at, and as soon as she could speak she began to rave like a mad woman. "How!" she exclaimed. "Dare to dispute with me the palm of beauty! To bring such disgrace upon my knights! No, I cannot endure it, I must have vengeance or death!" "Madam," said the princess, "I protest that I had not the least hand in anything that has happened. I am ready to attest with my blood, if it be your pleasure, that you are the handsomest person in the world, and that I am a monster of ugliness." "Ah, you can joke, can you, my little darling?" replied Grognon, "but I will have my turn before long." The king was informed of the rage of his wife, and that the princess was dying with terror, and implored him to have pity on her, as, should he leave her to the mercy of the queen, she would do her a thousand mischiefs. He was perfectly unmoved by the appeal, and simply answered, "I have given her to her step-mother. She may do as she pleases with her."
The wicked Grognon waited impatiently for night to arrive. As soon as it was dark she ordered the horses to be put to her travelling carriage. Gracieuse was forced into it, and under a strong escort she was conveyed to a large forest a hundred leagues distant, through which nobody dared pass, as it was full of lions, bears, tigers, and wolves. When they had reached the middle of this terrible wood they made the
