unknown, covered with a veil. I cannot be
your wife! No one shall blame you for having made so sad a choice."

The prince insisted long and firmly. Violette could scarcely control her
emotions but she resisted with as much resolution as devotion. Agnella
said nothing. She would have been willing that her son should accept
even this last sacrifice from poor Violette and simply allow her to
live near to them but hidden from the world.

Passerose wept and in a low tone encouraged the prince in his
determination.

"Violette," said the prince, at last, "since you absolutely refuse to
ascend the throne with me, I abandon it and all royal power in order to
live with you as before in solitude and happiness. Without your sweet
presence, the sceptre would be a heavy burden; with you at my side, our
little farm will be a paradise! Say, dear Violette, shall it be so?"

"Yes, dear brother, you have triumphed; let us live as we have lived so
many years: modest in our lives, happy in our affections."

"Noble prince and generous princess," said the fairy, "you shall be
recompensed for this rare and devoted tenderness. Prince, in the well to
which I carried you during the fire, there is a priceless treasure for
Violette and yourself. Descend into the well, seek for it, and when you
have found it bring it to me. I will teach you its value."

The prince did not wait to be told a second time; he ran towards the
well; the ladder was still there and he descended. On arriving at the
bottom, he saw nothing but the carpet which had been there from the
first; he searched the walls of the well, but saw no indication of
treasure. Finally he raised the carpet, and perceived a black stone with
a ring attached; he raised the stone and discovered a casket which
glittered like a constellation.

"This must contain the treasure spoken of by the fairy," said he.

The prince seized the casket; it was as light as a nutshell. He ascended
the ladder hastily, holding the casket carefully in his arms.

They were awaiting his return with impatience. He handed the casket to
the fairy. Agnella exclaimed:--

"This is the same casket you confided to me, madam, and which I supposed
I had lost in the fire."

"It is the same," replied the fairy. "Here is the key; open it, prince."

Prince Marvellous hastened to open it. But who can describe the general
disappointment, when, in place of some rich treasure which they supposed
it contained, they found only th