Beauty and the Beast
But now the trunks were so heavy that an elephant would have sunk under them.
‘It is all a cheat!’ cried the merchant. ‘The Beast is mocking us, and only pretended to give us these things, knowing that I could not carry them away.’
‘Wait a little,’ advised Beauty. ‘That would be a sorry jest, and I cannot help thinking that the Beast is honest; and that since he offered these gifts he will find you also the means to carry them. The best thing we can do is to strap up the trunks and leave them ready here.’
So they did this and went back to the little room, where to their amazement they found a breakfast laid on the table. For a moment they could scarcely believe that the night had flown by whilst they were occupied in ransacking the treasure chamber and packing the trunks. But, glancing at the windows, they saw that day was indeed breaking; and presently a bell sounded, warning the merchant to eat quickly and depart.
He finished his meal, and they went down together to the courtyard, where two horses stood ready—the one laden with the two trunks, the
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