geon cell. My Lady has given orders that you be
shown to a chamber as fine as that of the Prince Fortemain himself. Come
with me, if it please you."

Joyeuse was then taken to a little chamber, not high, but very pleasant,
looking out upon the garden through a window latticed with vines.

"You are free to come and go, Master," said the Gardener, and left him
with a low bow.

Now by the time all these things were finished it was late in the day,
and Joyeuse said to himself: "I will not search for the precious flower
to-night. I know that my dear flower-maiden prefers the early morning
garden, and among the freshly opened buds which I have seen her caress
so kindly must be the one she loves the best. I will now seek sleep, for
I am very weary. But early will I waken to-morrow morning, to seek the
flower which is most dear to her."

So Joyeuse lay down on his bed, and was soon asleep, dreaming sweetly of
the morrow. For he nothing doubted but that he should find the right and
only flower, since he loved the Princess so dearly that he must at last
read her secret.

IV

But the Prince Fortemain had no such peace of mind. He was wounded in
his princely pride because of having been defeated by the wandering
Minstrel. He could not sleep; but, resolving to be beforehand with
Joyeuse, went out into the garden by night and sought high and low for
the flower-favorite of the Princess. For he said to himself: "The
precious time has been almost spent by that luckless fight. And by the
hour when I arise to-morrow it will be time to present myself before the
Princess." (He was a lazy, loitering Prince; which was one reason for
his sour temper, I suppose.) "I must, then, find the flower to-night,
before that villain Minstrel does so."

Up and down the flowery paths went Fortemain, in and out among the
sleeping blossoms. Most of them had their eyes shut tightly, and he
could not see how beautiful they were. At last he came upon a white,
heavy-scented tuberose gleaming in the moonlight, and it seemed to him
the fairest of all. "Ha!" he said, "this is the sweetest blossom. Surely
this must be the favorite of the Princess Fleurette. I will pluck this,
and to-morrow I will take it to her and claim her hand."

He gathered the tuberose and took it with him to his chamber. But even
then the Prince Fortemain could not rest. The odor of the flower was
heavy and sickening, and it gave him troublous dreams. All night
wretchedly he tossed