Page 106 - Princess Belle-Etoile and Prince Cherie

their brother's absence prevented them, and
assuring him that at his return they should
profit by the permission he had given them, of
paying their respects to him.
The Prince Cheri was too much urged by his
passion not to make all possible speed; at
break of day he perceived a handsome young
man, who, reclining under some trees, was

reading a book; he addressed him, very civilly,
and said, "Give me leave to interrupt you: to
ask you, if you know in what place I shall find
the singing apple?" The young man raised his
eyes, and smiling graciously, said, "Do you
wish to obtain it?" "Yes, if it be possible,"
replied the Prince. "Ah! my Lord," replied the

stranger, "you are not aware, then, of the
dangers attending the undertaking; here is a
book that mentions it; it makes one tremble to
read it." "No matter for that," said Cheri,
"the danger will not dismay me,—only
inform me where I shall find it." "This book
indicates," continued the young man, "that it
is in a vast desert in Libya; that one can hear it
sing eight leagues off; and that the dragon,

which guards it, has already devoured five
hundred thousand persons, who have had the
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