"Well! King's son!" said the White Cat, "you have returned once more
without your crown?"
"Madam," answered the Prince, "your gifts should have gained it for
me, but I am convinced that the King would have more pain in giving it
up than I should have pleasure in possessing it!"
"Never mind," she replied, "you shall not neglect anything that may
deserve it; and if you must conduct a beautiful girl to your father's
court, I will look for one so that you may gain the prize. Meanwhile
let us be happy."
[Illustration]
If the Cat had not taken pains to remember the time when he must
return to the court, the Prince would surely have forgotten it. On the
evening before, she told him that she would bring him to one of the
most beautiful Princesses in the world, that at last the hour had
arrived to destroy the fatal work of an evil fairy, and to do this he
must make up his mind to cut off her head and tail, which he was at
once to throw into the fire.
"I," cried the Prince, "Blanchette that I love: do you think I should
be cruel enough to kill you? No doubt, you wish to prove my heart
which will certainly never forget what I owe to you for your
kindness.
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