evinced so much repugnance to marriage, that she advised them to go and talk to the Princess herself upon the subject. They went immediately.
Toutebelle had lost much of her haughtiness since her adventure with the Yellow Dwarf. She saw no better way of getting out of the dilemma, than by marrying some great king with whom the little monkey would not dare to dispute so glorious a prize. She, therefore, returned a more favourable answer than was hoped for; saying, that although she should have esteemed herself happy in remaining single all her life, she consented to marry the King of the Gold Mines, a very powerful and handsome prince, who had loved her passionately for several years, and who up to that moment had never been able to flatter himself that she would make the least return to his affection.
It is easy to imagine the excess of his joy when he received such charming intelligence, and the rage of all his rivals at the utter extinction of the fond hopes they had continued to nourish; but Toutebelle could not marry twenty kings. She had much ado to choose one; for her vanity was as great as ever, and she was still fully persuaded that nobody in the world was a fitting match for her.
Everything was prepared for the celebration of one of the grandest entertainments that had ever been given in the universe. The King of the Gold Mines sent home for such prodigious sums of money that the sea was entirely covered with the ships which returned with them. Agents were despatched to all the most polished and gallant Courts, particularly that of France, to purchase the rarest materials for the wardrobe of the Princess; though she had less need than anybody of ornament to set off her beauty, which was so perfect that it was impossible to add to it; and the King of the Gold Mines, thus upon the eve of happiness, never left the side of his charming Princess.
The obvious importance of becoming acquainted with the character of her future husband, inducing the Princess to study it carefully, she discovered in him so much merit, so much sense, such deep and delicate feeling,—in short, so fine a mind in so perfect a body, that she began to return in some degree his affection. What happy moments were they for both, when, wandering in the most beautiful gardens in
