as soon as she is my wife, you will see her happy." "I should like to believe it," said the King; "but do you not flatter yourself a little too much?" The humpback was much annoyed by his father's doubts. "You are the cause, madam," said he to the Princess, "of the King's treating me with a severity which is not usual with him. Perhaps he loves you: tell me so candidly, and choose between us,—provided I see you reign, I shall be satisfied." He spoke thus to ascertain her sentiments; for he had no idea of altering his own intentions. The young Carpillon, who knew not yet that the greater number of lovers are artful and deceitful creatures, fell into the trap. "I own, my lord," said she to him, "that if I were my own mistress, I should neither choose the King nor you; but if my ill fortune compels me to this sad necessity, I prefer the King." "And why?" replied the humpback, endeavouring to constrain himself. "Because," added she, "he is milder than you are, that he reigns at present, and that perhaps he may not live so long." "Ah! little wretch," replied the humpback, "you would marry my father in order to be queen-dowager after a little while. Most assuredly you shall not,—he does not think of you; it is I who am good enough to do so—goodness, to speak the truth, ill-bestowed, for you are insupportably ungrateful; but, were you a hundred times more so, you shall be my wife."
The Princess Carpillon learned, but a little too late, that it is sometimes dangerous to say all one thinks; and, to make amends for what she had just said, "I wished to ascertain your sentiments," replied she to him; "I am very glad that you love me sufficiently to resent the harshness that I have affected. I esteem you already, my lord; endeavour to make me love you." The Prince, in his turn, fell headlong into the trap, obvious as it was; but people are generally very foolish when they are much in love, and have an inclination to flatter themselves, which it is difficult to correct. Carpillon's words made him milder than a lamb, he smiled, and pressed her hands till he hurt them.
As soon as he had left her she ran to the King's apartment, and throwing herself at his feet, "Protect me, Sire," said she, "from the greatest of misery: Prince Bossu insists upon marrying me. I confess that he is odious to me: do not be so unjust as he is; my rank, my youth, and the misfortunes of my
