pon the folk, who did not interest him in the least. His
superb fur was greatly admired, but not his unsociable disposition.
And so he passed the days, promenading up and down his cage, swinging
his head to and fro for hours at a time, eating, drinking, and sleeping
in seemingly perfect content, and regarded with profound respect by his
numerous visitors.

On the morning after Michel made his way into the cage he awoke at
daybreak. Bewildered at his strange situation, yet delighted because
of the comfortable night he had passed snuggled up in the bear's thick
warm fur, he made haste to get out in the same manner that he had
entered, not forgetting, however, to give his kind host a hearty hug
expressive of his gratitude. He had no idea of losing so excellent a
sleeping-place by remaining in it too long and being discovered by the
bear's attendant. That day fortune favoured him in his begging, and he
was able to obtain the food he so sadly needed. As it was still very
cold he impatiently awaited the return of night in order to regain his
snug refuge.

On re-entering the cage the bear gave him a kinder welcome than the
first time, and henceforward the two were great friends. Every morning
the little Savoyard slipped away unseen, and every night returned to
his shaggy benefactor. Thanks to the comfort he then enjoyed, his
appearance began to improve. His shrunken limbs rounded out again and
the colour came back to his cheeks. But this could not go on
indefinitely. One fine day the bear's attendant was filled with
astonishment at finding a small boy sleeping beside Mascot, who was
licking him softly. He thought he must have lost his senses, when he
beheld the little fellow wake up and caress the fierce brute in his
turn without showing the slightest sign of fear.

His outcries attracted the attention of a groom, and he told the
strange news to a footman, who passed it on to the pages, and they
spread it about the palace so thoroughly that presently everybody,
including Duke Leopold himself, was hurrying towards the cage.

There they found poor Michel, weeping piteously and evidently in terror
of being harshly dealt with. Having soothed him with a few kind words,
the Duke ordered him to come out of the cage and explain himself. The
boy promptly obeyed, and, as best he could, told his story.

Touched by the recital of his sufferings, and animated by a worthy
determination not to be outdone in generosity by a