wildly as suddenly to lose her balance, to slip down a gutter which descended perpendicularly into an inner court of the palace, and, finally, to pitch head first into a big basin in which aromatics and essences were in course of soaking. Stunned by the fall and half stifled by the violence of the perfumes, the poor creature struggled some time before being able to extricate itself.
The agitation of the Princess may be conceived when, next day, she beheld this cat on which the security of the kingdom rested enter her chamber shivering, soiled, dazed, with the aspect, in short, of a half-drowned animal. This agitation, however, was as nothing compared with that which followed on her discovering that large patches of white marred the robe of azure obtained at the cost of so many sacrifices.
Presently, alas! even doubt was no longer possible; for, by force of rubbing against the bed-curtains to dry itself, Velvetpaw, Oh, perfidious—Velvetpaw herself reappeared, still slightly blue, but nevertheless only too recognisable! It had been able to save its skin in the accident of the past night, but not its colour, which was not proof against essences.
The anger of the Princess was extreme on learning in this way the trick by which she had been abused. Instantly she wished to avenge herself, but in a terrible, cruel manner; and she was hesitating on the choice of a punishment, when the Prince entered, handsomely dressed in a cherry-coloured satin robe embroidered with pearls, which admirably set off his gallant bearing.
As soon as she saw him she pointed an accusing finger towards discoloured Velvetpaw, which, with a very crestfallen air, was curled up at the foot of the Princess's bed.
"Torture shall make you repent, miserable impostor!" she cried, trembling with passion, and with flashing eyes.
Brisloün was not in the least alarmed.
"What has made you so angry, madam, and what crime has drawn down upon me such severe reproaches?" he asked.
"Tricking me!" replied the Princess furiously.
Brisloün was still unmoved.
"You ought, on the contrary, to thank me," he said. "The cat of which you dreamed has no existence; I made it; your life, your beauty, your happiness—I say nothing of that of your whole people—depended on this caprice; I staked my head on satisfying it." And in a gentle tone he added: "Say, Princess, have you been less happy?"
"To have played the oracle!" said Ailla, her bosom heaving.
"To have interpreted it, you would say." And, as she suddenly became thoughtful, Brisloün went on: "Your dream, my beautiful Princess, was at once a warning and a lesson. The sorcerer gave you the word, I the sense of it. Happiness, Ailla, is not like the grenades, less red than your lips, which are brought to you on a salver of gold, fresh gathered, perfumed, and perfectly ripe; the divers elements which compose it are floating freely about in the world; it is for us to seize upon them and bring them together."
Was it the effect of this address, or a new caprice? Did the large black eyes of Brisloün influence her who had many times before submitted to their powerful fascination? No one has ever known; but the anger of Ailla suddenly disappeared, like the melting of thin snow under the rays of spring. With a slightly pouting smile, she held out to the Prince a hand which he needed no beseeching to carry to his lips.
Velvetpaw, thinking that a good moment for re-entering into the Princess's favour, went and gently rubbed her tiny head against her skirts; and, thinking of something else, the Princess sat down and caressed her.
Ailla was superstitious, and, moreover, she was a woman. She reflected for a few minutes, then turning with irresistible grace to Brisloün, who was watching her, she said:
"Prince, you have discovered the true meaning of the oracle, and I thank you for doing it. And now I am going to ask a favour of you."
He hastened to protest that he was ready to give his dear Princess all the proofs of love and devotion it should please her to require.
Without speaking she took up Velvetpaw and handed it to him.
"What!" cried Brisloün, laughing, "you want a new one?"
"I should feel more at ease; only—," she paused, laughing also; but presently added in a coquettish tone, "since it makes no
