ounds.

With all speed they began to retrace their steps, but this time the
happy Prince could not bear the sight of his defeated and disappointed
rivals, whose frozen forms lined his triumphant way. He gave orders
to his spaniels to spare no pains to restore them to life, and so
successful were they that day by day his train increased, so that by the
time he got back to the little village where he had left his horse he
was escorted by five hundred sovereign Princes, and knights and squires
without number, and he was so courteous and unassuming that they all
followed him willingly, anxious to do him honour. But then he was so
happy and blissful himself that he found it easy to be at peace with all
the world. It was not long before he met the faithful Mousta, who was
coming at the top of his speed hoping to meet the Prince, that he might
tell him of the sudden and wonderful change that had come over the
Princess, who had become gentle and thoughtful and had talked to him
of nothing but Prince Mannikin, of the hardships she feared he might
be suffering, and of her anxiety for him, and all this with a hundred
fonder expressions which put the finishing stroke to the Prince's
delight. Then came a courier bearing the congratulations of the King and
Queen, who had just heard of his successful return, and there was even a
graceful compliment from Sabella herself. The Prince sent Mousta back to
her, and he was welcomed with joy, for was he not her lover's present?

At last the travellers reached the capital, and were received with regal
magnificence. Farda-Kinbras and Birbantine embraced Prince Mannikin,
declaring that they regarded him as their heir and the future husband of
the Princess, to which he replied that they did him too much honour.
And then he was admitted into the presence of the Princess, who for the
first time in her life blushed as he kissed her hand, and could not find
a word to say. But the Prince, throwing himself on his knees beside her,
held out the splendid diamond, saying:

'Madam, this treasure is yours, since none of the dangers and
difficulties I have gone through have been sufficient to make me deserve
it.'

'Ah! Prince,' said she, 'if I take it, it is only that I may give it
back to you, since truly it belongs to you already.'

At this moment in came the King and Queen, and interrupted them by
asking all the questions imaginable, and not infrequently the same over
and over again. It seems that th