IN NIGHT, DURING A STORM OF THUNDER AND
RAIN, HE LOST HIS WAY."]

Then the Princes set out, each by a different road, agreeing in a
year's time to meet at a certain place a short distance from their
home.

The two elder met with many adventures, but it is only the youngest
that we shall follow.

This youngest Prince was very courteous, merry, clever and
accomplished, he was tall, handsome, and all that a prince should be.

Very seldom a day passed without his buying dogs, little dogs, big
dogs, sporting dogs, spaniels, hounds, dogs of all sorts. When he
found a beautiful one and then came across a still better, he let the
first one go, for being alone--the Princes had declined to take any
attendants--he could not take charge of thirty or forty thousand dogs.

He travelled on, keeping to one road, until on a certain night, during
a storm of thunder and rain, he lost his way, and after some wandering
arrived at a most superb castle where nobody was to be seen but about
a dozen hands all holding torches. Other hands pushed him forwards,
and guided him through one apartment after another, all so rich in
precious stones and beautiful paintings, that it was like enchantment.

After passing through sixty rooms, the hands stopped him, and here the
wet garments of the Prince were taken away, and he was clad in raiment
of the most exquisite description. The hands then conducted him into
a banqueting hall, where entered a little figure, not two feet high,
covered with a long black crepe veil, followed by a great procession
of cats.

The Prince was too much astonished to move. The little figure
approached him, raising the veil, and he saw the most beautiful White
Cat he had ever beheld.

Addressing the Prince she said:

"King's son! welcome! my Feline Majesty sees you with pleasure!"

"Madame Cat," replied the Prince, "it is very good of you to receive
me thus, but you are not an ordinary cat; being able to speak, and
possessing this superb castle, are proof of that."

After they had conversed a little while, supper was served to them,
during which the Prince entertained the Cat by telling her all sorts
of news, and he discovered that she was well informed as to what was
taking place in the world.

Supper over, various cats came in, dressed in fancy costumes, and
danced a ballet, then the White Cat bid her visitor good-night, and
the hands which had conducted him before, led him to a bed-chamber.

Early the next mo