you." Fortuné entered the meadow, and desired to know what he was doing. "I want some simples," replied he; "and I am listening to the grass as it grows, to find out those which I require." "How!" said the Chevalier, "have you ears so quick, that you can hear the grass grow, and guess that which will come up?" "It is for that reason," said the listener, "they call me Fine-ear." "Very well, Fine-ear," continued Fortuné, "are you inclined to follow me? I will give you such high wages, that you will have no reason to regret it." The man, delighted at so agreeable a proposition, joined without hesitation the other followers.
The Chevalier, continuing his journey, saw by the side of a high-road a man whose cheeks were so inflated that it had a very droll effect; he was standing with his face towards a lofty mountain, two leagues off, upon which were fifty or sixty windmills. The horse said to his master, "There is another of our gifted ones; do all you can to take him with you." Fortuné, who had the power of fascinating every one he saw or spoke to, accosted this man, and asked him, what he was doing there. "I am blowing a little, my Lord," said he, "to set all those mills at work." "It appears to me, you are too far off," replied the Chevalier. "On the contrary," replied the blower, "I find I am too near; and if I did not retain the half of my breath, I should upset the mills, and perhaps the mountains they stand on. I do a great deal of mischief in this way without intending it; and I can tell you, my Lord, that, having been very ill-treated once by my mistress, as I went into the woods to indulge my sorrow, my sighs tore the trees up by the root, and created great confusion; so that in this province they never call me anything but Boisterous." "If they are tired of you," said Fortuné, "and you would come with me, here are some who will keep you company; they also possess extraordinary talent." "I have so natural a curiosity for everything that is uncommon," replied Boisterous, "that I accept your offer."
Fortuné, much pleased, proceeded; and, after passing through a well-wooded country, came to a large lake, fed by several springs; at the side of it was a man, who looked at it very attentively. "My Lord," said Comrade to his master, this man is wanting to complete your train. If you could induce him to follow you, it would be as well." The Chevalier
