when he was crushed, broken, aching, and
crippled in every limb, the youngest, who was at least eighty years
of age, squatted upon him and treated him in a manner too infamous to
describe. He was almost suffocated; immediately afterwards the other
two, taking the place of the first, treated the unfortunate gentleman in
the same way.

Finally all three made off, saluting him with: "Good night, Endymion!"
"To our next meeting, Adonis!" "Good-bye, beautiful Narcissus!" and left
him swooning.

When he came back to his senses, a toad near him was whistling
deliciously like a flute, and a cloud of mosquitoes were dancing before
the moon. He rose with great difficulty and limpingly pursued his
journey.

Once again Monsieur de Boulingrin had failed to recognize the fairies,
mistresses of the destinies of men.

The Duchess of Cicogne awaited him impatiently.

"You come very late, my friend," she said.

He answered, as he kissed her fingers, that it was very kind of her to
reproach him. His excuse was that he had been somewhat unwell.

"Boulingrin," she said, "sit down there."

And she confided to him that she would be very happy to accept from
the royal treasury a present of two thousand crowns, as a fitting
compensation for the unkindness of fate, faro having for the last six
months been terribly against her.

Informed that the matter was urgent, Boulingrin wrote immediately to
Monsieur de La Rochecoupee to ask for the necessary sum of money.

"La Rochecoupee will be delighted to obtain it for you," he said. "He
is a helpful person and takes pleasure in serving his friends. I may add
that in him one perceives greater talents than are commonly seen in the
favourites of Princes. He has taste, and a head for business; but he
is lacking in philosophy. He believes in fairies, relying on his
senses----"

"Boulingrin," said the Duchess, "you stink like a tom-cat."

CHAPTER IV

SEVENTEEN years, day by day, had elapsed since the fairies' decree. The
Princess was as beautiful as a star. The King, Queen, and Court were
in residence at the rural palace of Eaux-Perdues. Need I relate what
happened then? It is well known how the Princess Aurore, wandering one
day through the castle, came to the top of a keep, where, in a garret,
she found a dear old woman, all alone, plying her distaff. She had never
heard of the King's regulations, forbidding the use of spindles.

"What are you doing, my good woman?" asked the Princ