Page 151 - Princess Belle-Etoile and Prince Cherie

King wished the strangers to witness this
magnificence, he ordered his principal equerry
to go and invite the beautiful children, and
commanded him, in case they were not yet
come back, to leave strict orders, that they
should be informed of his wish on their
return.
The principal equerry went to seek them, but

did not find them; but knowing the pleasure
the King would have in seeing them, he left
one of his gentlemen to wait for them, to
conduct them to the palace without delay. The
happy day—the day of the grand banquet,
arrived, Belle-Etoile and the Princes had
returned; the gentleman related the King's

history to them, that he had married a poor
girl who was perfectly beautiful and virtuous,
who had the misfortune to bring into the
world three dogs; that he had sent her away,
never to see her again, but that he loved her
dearly; that he had passed fifteen years
without listening to any proposition of
marriage, but that the Queen-Mother and her
subjects having urged him strongly, he had at

length determined to marry a princess of the
blood-royal, and that it was necessary they
______
151