Her children kissed her hands and feet a thousand times; never had there been a more tender and touching sight; every one wept and raised their hands and eyes to heaven, to return thanks for having permitted such important circumstances to be brought to light. The King thanked the princess, who had intended to marry him, and presented her with a large quantity of jewels. But for the Queen-Mother, the admiral's wife, and Feintise, what could he not have done to them, if he had only been counselled by his indignation! The tempest of his rage began to lower, when the generous Queen, his children, and Cheri entreated him to be appeased, and to inflict a judgment upon them more for the sake of example than severity: he imprisoned the Queen-Mother in a tower, but for the admiral's wife and Feintise, they threw them together into a dark loathsome dungeon, where they fed with the three dogs called Chagrin, Mouron, and Douleur; and as they no longer saw their good mistress, they bit those they were with every instant. In this dungeon they ended their days, which were sufficiently protracted to give them time to repent of all their crimes.
As soon as the Queen-Mother, the admiral's wife, and Feintise, were led away to the several places appointed for them by the King, the musicians began to sing and to play. The joy was unequalled; Belle-Etoile and Cheri felt more than everybody besides; they knew they were on the eve of being made happy. In short, the King, who thought his nephew the handsomest and most accomplished man at Court, told him he could not let such a grand day pass without a wedding, and that he presented him with his daughter. The Prince, transported with joy, threw himself at his feet, and Belle-Etoile was equally delighted.
It was but just that the old Princess, who had lived in solitude for so many years, should quit it to partake of the public rejoicing. The same little fairy, who came to dine with her, and whom she received so well, entered suddenly to relate to her all that had passed at Court. "Let us go there," continued she, "I will inform you as we go along of the care I have taken of your family." The grateful Princess ascended the Fairy's chariot, which was brilliant with gold and azure, and preceded by a military band, and followed by a hundred body-guards, consisting of the first noblemen in the kingdom.
