had finished her story, 'but they cannot destroy the
work of another fairy. Very shortly you will pass into the weakness and
silliness of extreme old age, and all I can do for you is to make it as
easy to you as possible, and to preserve you from the death that others
have suffered, from having no one to look after them. But the charm is
working already! Cornichon is taller and more manly than he was an hour
ago, and Toupette no longer looks like a little girl.'

It was true; but this fact did not seem to render the young people as
miserable as it did Selnozoura.

'Do not pity us,' said Cornichon. 'If we are fated to grow old so soon,
let us no longer delay our marriage. What matter if we anticipate our
decay, if we only anticipate our happiness too?'

The fairy felt that Cornichon had reason on his side, and seeing by a
glance at Toupette's face that there was no opposition to be feared from
her, she answered, 'Let it be so, then. But not in this dreadful place.
We will return at once to Bagota, and the festivities shall be the most
brilliant ever seen.'

They all returned to the vessel, and in a few hours the four thousand
five hundred miles that lay between the island and Bagota were passed.
Everyone was surprised to see the change which the short absence had
made in the young people, but as the fairy had promised absolute silence
about the adventure, they were none the wiser, and busied themselves in
preparing their dresses for the marriage, which was fixed for the next
night.

Early on the following morning the genius Kristopo arrived at the Court,
on one of the visits he was in the habit of paying his ward from time to
time. Like the rest, he was astonished at the sudden improvement in the
child. He had always been fond of her, and in a moment he fell violently
in love. Hastily demanding an audience of the fairy, he laid his
proposals before her, never doubting that she would give her consent to
so brilliant a match. But Selnozoura refused to listen, and even
hinted that in his own interest Kristopo had better turn his thoughts
elsewhere. The genius pretended to agree, but, instead, he went straight
to Toupette's room, and flew away with her through the window, at the
very instant that the bridegroom was awaiting her below.

When the fairy discovered what had happened, she was furious, and sent
messenger after messenger to the genius in his palace at Ratibouf,
commanding him to restore Toupette without dela