cat." She was amused by his wish, and returned him some mysterious answers, out of which he could scarcely make anything. A year flies away quickly when one has neither care nor pain, when one is merry and in good health. White Cat knew the time at which the Prince was bound to return, and as he thought no more of it, she reminded him. "Dost know," said she, "that thou hast only three days left to look for the little dog that the King, thy father, wishes for, and that thy brothers have already found several very beautiful?" The Prince's memory returned to him, and, astonished at his negligence, "What secret spell," he exclaimed, "could have made me forget a thing, the most important to me in the world?—My honour and my fortune are staked upon it. Where shall I find such a dog as will win a kingdom for me, and a horse swift enough to perform such a journey in so short a time?" He began to be very anxious and sorrowful.
White Cat said to him, with much sweetness, "Son of a King, do not distress thyself, I am thy friend. Thou mayest yet remain here one day longer; and, although it is five hundred leagues from this to your country, the good wooden horse will carry you there in less than twelve hours." "I thank you, beautiful Cat," said the Prince; "but it is not sufficient for me merely to return to my father; I must take him a little dog." "Hold," said White Cat, "here is an acorn which contains one more beautiful than the dog-star." "Oh, Madam Cat," cried the Prince, "your majesty jests with me." "Put the acorn to your ear," rejoined she, "and you will hear it bark." He obeyed her, and immediately the little dog went "bow, wow," which transported the Prince with delight, for such a dog as could be contained in an acorn was certain to be very diminutive indeed.
He was going to open the acorn, so eager was he to see the dog, but White Cat told him that it might catch cold on the journey, and it would be better for him to wait till he was in the presence of his royal father. He thanked her a thousand times, and took a most tender leave of her. "I assure you," he added, "that the days I have passed with you have flown so quickly, that I regret in some measure leaving you behind me; and although you are a sovereign here, and all the cats that compose your court possess much more wit and gallantry than ours, I do not hesitate to invite you to come
