ave forgotten it. On the
evening before, she told him that she would bring him to one of the
most beautiful Princesses in the world, that at last the hour had
arrived to destroy the fatal work of an evil fairy, and to do this he
must make up his mind to cut off her head and tail, which he was at
once to throw into the fire.

"I," cried the Prince, "Blanchette that I love: do you think I should
be cruel enough to kill you? No doubt, you wish to prove my heart
which will certainly never forget what I owe to you for your
kindness."

"No! King's son," she continued, "I don't think you are ungrateful. Do
this that I beseech you, and then we shall begin to be happy with one
another, by the faith and honour of a cat, believe that I am truly
your friend."

Tears flowed from the Prince's eyes even at the thought, and he said
all that he could to avoid it, but she urged him so vehemently that
at last he took his sword and tremblingly cut off the head and tail of
his dear friend the Cat.

In the same moment took place the most marvellous change imaginable.

The body of the White Cat grew large, and was transformed into that
of a girl; how, one could not say; one only knew it was so. Her figure
was majestic, her manners charming, her whole appearance beautiful
beyond words.

Then there entered an immense number of lords and ladies, who carrying
their cats' skins, or with them thrown across their shoulders, came
and cast themselves at the feet of the Queen, expressing their joy at
seeing her again in her rightful form.

She received them all with a kindness which showed the goodness of her
heart, and then turning to the Prince she told the story of her life,
and how by a wicked enchantment she had been transformed into a White
Cat.

"But it is you, my Prince, who have freed me," she concluded; "as soon
as I saw you I knew my troubles were at an end."

They set out forthwith in a splendid carriage. As they drew near the
castle, at the place where the three brothers were to meet, the Queen
entered into a little crystal rock ornamented with precious stones,
and this was carried by richly dressed young men.

The Prince who had remained in the carriage, saw his brothers,
approaching with wondrously beautiful ladies.

On being questioned he told them that all he had brought was a little
White Cat.

[Illustration: "THE BODY OF THE WHITE CAT GREW LARGE AND WAS
TRANSFORMED INTO THAT OF A GIRL."]

They began to laugh at him