ncess, "that I have not yet come to
a decision in this matter, and I believe I never shall be able to arrive
at such a one as you desire."

"You astonish me, madam," said Riquet with the Tuft.

"I can well believe it," said the Princess; "and surely if I had to do
with a clown, or a man of no sense, I should find myself very much at a
loss. 'A princess always keeps her word,' he would say to me, 'and you
must marry me, since you promised to do so.' But as he to whom I talk
is the one man in the world who is master of the greatest sense and
judgment, I am sure he will hear reason. You know that when I was but a
fool I could scarcely make up my mind to marry you; why will you have
me, now I have so much judgment as you gave me, come to such a decision
which I could not then make up my mind to agree to? If you sincerely
thought to make me your wife, you have been greatly in the wrong to
deprive me of my dull simplicity, and make me see things much more
clearly than I did."

"If a man of no wit and sense," replied Riquet with the Tuft, "would be
well received, as you say, in reproaching you for breach of your word,
why will you not let me, madam, have the same usage in a matter wherein
all the happiness of my life is concerned? Is it reasonable that persons
of wit and sense should be in a worse condition than those who have
none? Can you pretend this, you who have so great a share, and desired
so earnestly to have it? But let us come to the fact, if you please.
Putting aside my ugliness and deformity, is there anything in me which
displeased you? Are you dissatisfied with my birth, my wit, my humor, or
my manners?"

"Not at all," answered the Princess; "I love you and respect you in all
that you mention."

[Illustration: "I AM EXACT IN KEEPING MY WORD." p. 61.]

"If it be so," said Riquet with the Tuft, "I am happy, since it is in
your power to make me the most amiable of men."

"How can that be?" said the Princess.

"It is done," said Riquet with the Tuft, "if you love me enough to wish
it was so; and that you may no ways doubt, madam, of what I say, know
that the same fairy who on my birthday gave me for gift the power of
making the person who should please me witty and judicious, has in like
manner given you for gift the power of making him whom you love and to
whom you would grant the favor, to be extremely handsome."

"If it be so," said the Princess, "I wish with all my heart that you may
be the most lovabl