a great distance. The walls were of transparent porcelain, of several colours, on which were represented the histories of all the Fairies from the beginning of the world to that day. The famous adventures of Peau d'Ane,[1] Finette, the Orange-tree, Gracieuse, the Sleeping Beauty in the Wood, Green Serpent, and a hundred others, were not forgotten. He was delighted to meet amongst them, with Prince Sprite; for he was his uncle, according to the fashion of Brittany.[2] The rain and storm prevented his staying longer on a spot where he was being wetted to the skin; besides which he could not see anything beyond where the light of the carbuncles extended to.
He returned to the golden gate. He saw a kid's foot attached to a chain of diamonds. He admired all this magnificence, and the security in which the owners of the castle appeared to live. "For, after all," said he, "what is to prevent thieves from coming and cutting down this chain and pulling the carbuncles off the gate? They would enrich themselves for ever."
He pulled the kid's foot and immediately heard a bell ring, which seemed by its sound to be of gold or of silver; a moment after, the gate was opened without his perceiving anything except a dozen of hands in the air, each of which held a flambeau. He was so astonished that he hesitated to advance; when he felt other hands which pushed him forwards with gentle violence. He moved on, therefore, with some distrust, and at all risks, keeping his hand on the hilt of his sword; but on entering a vestibule entirely encrusted with porphyry and lapis lazuli, he heard two enchanting voices which sang these words:
"Start not at the hands you see,
Nor fear in this delightful place
Aught, except a lovely face,
If from Love your heart would flee."
He could not believe that he was invited so graciously for the purpose of eventually injuring him; so that, feeling himself pushed towards a large gate of coral, which opened
