Page 48 - Princess Belle-Etoile and Prince Cherie

one of them, for where could she ever find
any so perfectly handsome?"
"When I fell in with them," said the Corsair,
"I saw nothing that could give me any idea of
their birth. The jewels that were tied to their
cradle showed that they belonged to wealthy
people. What was most singular, they appeared
from their ages to have been all born at the

same time, and four at a birth is by no means a
common occurrence." "I suspect also," said
Corsine, "that Cheri is not their brother, he
has neither star nor neck-chain." "That's
true," replied her husband; "but diamonds fall
from his hair, as they do from that of the
others. After all the wealth we have amassed

through the means of these dear children, the
only wish I have left is to discover their
origin." "We must leave it to the gods," said
Corsine; "they gave them to us, and in their
own good time they will no doubt develop the
mystery." Belle-Etoile listened attentively to
this conversation. It is impossible to describe
her delight at the hope she was thereby led to
entertain that she was of some illustrious race;

for, though she had always respected those
whom she had ______

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