Page 69 - Princess Belle-Etoile and Prince Cherie

There were several baskets round her, to
prevent the jewels, which fell from her hair,
being lost: the star upon her forehead threw out
so much brilliancy they could scarcely bear it,
and the gold chain round her neck was as
wonderful as the precious diamonds which
rolled from the crown of her head. The
secretary, with difficulty, believed his eyes; but

the Princess, selecting the largest pearl, begged
him to accept it, in remembrance of her; it was
the one that the kings of Spain esteem so much,
and is called Peregrina, that is to say, Pilgrim,
because it came from a traveller.
The secretary took leave of her, confused by
such great liberality, and paid his respects to the

three Princes, with whom he remained some
time, in order to gain such information as he
could about them. He returned to make his
report to the Queen-Mother, who was
confirmed by it in her suspicions. He told her,
that Cheri had no star, but that jewels fell rom
his hair, as from that of his brothers, and that in
his opinion he was the handsomest. That they
came from a great distance; that their father and

mother had given them only a certain time to
see foreign countries. This latter point rather
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