Page 71 - Princess Belle-Etoile and Prince Cherie

many marks of reverence, falling at his feet and
embracing his knees, while the Princess kissed
his hands as though she recognised him as their
father. He embraced them fervently, and his
heart was so agitated, he could not imagine the
cause of it. He told them, that they must come
to the Palace, that he wished them to be his
guests, and to present them to his mother. They

thanked him for the honour he had done them,
and assured him that as soon as their dresses and
their equipages were ready they would not fail
to come to the Court.
The King quitted them to finish the chase which
he had begun; he kindly sent them half the
game, and took the rest to the Queen. "How,"

said she, "is it possible you have had so
little sport? you generally kill three times as
much game." "Very true," replied the King,
"but I have presented some to the handsome
strangers. I feel so much affection for them,
that it quite surprises me, and if you had not
been so alarmed at the idea of contagion, I
should have invited them to the Palace before
this." ___

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