here to buy ten kingdoms, each as big as Paris!"[1] "Well," said the duchess, "know that these barrels are all filled with gold and jewels, and I will make you master of all, provided you will marry me." "Oh," said the king, who loved money beyond anything, "I desire nothing better!—I'll marry you to-morrow if you please." "But," continued she, "I must make one more condition. I must have the same power over your daughter as her mother had. She must obey my will and pleasure, and you shall leave her entirely to my management." "Agreed," said the king, "there is my hand upon it." Grognon placed her hand in his, and leaving the treasure-vault together, she presented him with the key of it.
The king immediately returned to his palace. Gracieuse, hearing her royal father's voice, ran to meet him, embraced him, and inquired if he had had good sport. "I have taken," said he, "a dove, alive." "Ah, Sir," said the princess, "give it to me, I will feed and make a pet of it." "That may not be," replied the king, "for to speak plainly, I must tell you that I have seen the Duchess Grognon, and that I am going to marry her." "Oh, Heavens!" exclaimed Gracieuse, "can you call her a dove? She is more like a screech-owl!" "Hold your tongue," said the king, becoming angry; "I command you to love and respect her as much as if she were your mother. Go and dress yourself immediately, for I intend to return this very day to meet her." The princess, who was very obedient, went immediately to her dressing-room. Her nurse saw tears in her eyes—"What is the matter, my little darling?" she asked, "you are crying?" "Alas! my dear nurse," answered Gracieuse, "who would not weep? The king is going to give me a step-mother, and to complete my misfortune, she is my most cruel enemy,—in one word, the hideous Grognon! How shall I ever bear to see her in the beautiful beds which the queen, my dear mother, so delicately embroidered with her own hands! How can I ever caress a malicious old ape who would have put me to death!" "My dear child," replied the nurse, "you must have a spirit as
- ↑ "Dix Royaumes grands comme Paris." I am inclined to think that the word royaumes (kingdoms) was used advisedly in lieu of villes (cities), in compliment to the Grand Monarque, and at the expense of the petty princes of Germany and Italy, so continually opposed to him (particularly in the League of Augsburgh, 1687), some of whose entire dominions were not much larger that the metropolis of France.
