, than have the beauty I possess, and be as stupid as I am."

"There is nothing, madam," returned he, "shows more that we have good
sense than to believe we have none; and it is the nature of that
excellent quality that the more people have of it, the more they believe
they want it."

"I do not know that," said the Princess; "but I know very well that I
am very senseless, and that vexes me mightily."

"If that be all which troubles you, madam, I can very easily put an end
to your affliction."

"And how will you do that?" cried the Princess.

"I have the power, madam," replied Riquet with the Tuft, "to give to
that person whom I love best as much good sense as can be had; and as
you, madam, are that very person, it will be your fault only if you have
not as great a share of it as any one living, provided you will be
pleased to marry me."

The Princess was quite confused, and answered not a word.

"I see," replied Riquet with the Tuft, "that this proposal does not
please you, and I do not wonder at it; but I will give you a whole year
to consider it."

The Princess had so little sense and, at the same time, so great a
longing to have some, that she imagined the end of that year would never
come, so she accepted the proposal which was made her.

She had no sooner promised Riquet with the Tuft that she would marry him
on that day twelvemonth than she found herself quite otherwise than she
was before: she had an incredible faculty of speaking whatever she had
in her mind in a polite, easy, and natural manner.

She began that moment a very gallant conversation with Riquet with the
Tuft, which she kept up at such a rate that Riquet with the Tuft
believed he had given her more sense than he had reserved for himself.

When she returned to the palace, the whole court knew not what to think
of such a sudden and extraordinary change; for they heard from her now
as much sensible discourse and as many infinitely witty phrases as they
had heard stupid and silly impertinences before. The whole court was
overjoyed beyond imagination at it. It pleased all but her younger
sister, because, having no longer the advantage of her in respect of
wit, she appeared in comparison with her a very disagreeable, homely
girl.

The King governed himself by her advice, and would even sometimes hold a
council in her apartment. The news of this change in the Princess spread
everywhere; the young princes of the neighboring kingdoms strove all