to the city where Désirée's father resided; he threw himself at the feet of the King and Queen, he shed many tears, and assured them, in the most affecting terms, that Prince Guerrier would die, if they refused him any longer the pleasure of seeing the Princess their daughter: that she was fifteen years old all but three months, that nothing serious could happen in so short a space of time; that he took the liberty of making known to them, that so great a belief in these insignificant fairies was an injury to royal majesty; in short, he pleaded so well that he had the gift of persuasion.
They wept with him at his representation of the sad condition to which the young Prince was reduced, and they then told him, that they must have some days to decide upon their answer. He replied, that he could only give them a few hours; that it was an extreme case with his master; that he imagined the Princess hated him, and that it was she herself who delayed the journey. They then assured him, that before evening he should know what could be done in the matter.
The Queen ran to her dear daughter's palace, and told her all that had passed. Désirée's grief was unequalled; her heart failed her, she fainted, and the Queen became convinced of her sentiments for the Prince. "Do not distress yourself, my dear child," said she, "you are able to cure him. I am only uneasy on account of the threats of the Fairy of the Fountain at your birth." "I flatter myself, Madam," replied she, "that there are some means by which we could outwit the wicked Fairy; for instance, could I not go in a coach so closely shut up that I could not see daylight? They might open it at night, to give me something to eat, and I should thus arrive safely at the palace of Prince Guerrier."
The Queen fancied this expedient very much; she told the King, who approved of it also; they then sent for Becafigue to come to them directly, and they assured him that the Princess should set out instantly—therefore he had nothing more to do than return with this good news to his master; and that, to expedite the matter, they would dispense with the equipage, and the rich dresses suitable to her rank. The ambassador, transported with joy, again threw himself at their Majesties' feet to thank them, after which he departed without having seen the Princess.
The separation from the King and Queen would have
