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HEART OF ICE. |
137 |
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Bayard and his subjects regain their natural forms as a reward for his kindness to you."
Just then arrived a chariot drawn by eagles, which proved to contain the foolish kiDg and queen, who embraced their long-lost son with great joy, and were greatly struck with the fact that they did indeed find him covered with fur! While they were caressing Sabella and wringing her hands (which is a favorite form of endearment with foolish people) chariots were seen approaching from all points of the compass containing numbers of fairies.
"Sire," said Genesta to Farda-Kinbras, "I have taken the liberty of appointing your court as a meeting-place for all the fairies who could spare the time to come; and I hope you can arrange to hold the great ball, which we have once in a hundred years, on this occasion."
The king having suitably acknowledged the honor done him was next reconciled to Gorgonzola, and they two presently opened the ball together. The fairy Marsontine restored their natural forms to King Bayard and all his subjects, and he appeared once more as handsome a king as you could wish to see. One of the fairies immediately dispatched her chariot for the Queen of the Spice Islands, and their wedding took place at the same time as that of Prince Manikin and the lovely and gracious Sabella. They lived happily ever afterward, and their vast kingdoms were presently divided between their children.
The prince, out of grateful remembrance of the Princess Sabella's first gift to him, bestowed the right of bearing her name upon the most beautiful of the martens, and that is why they are called sables to this day.* |
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Comte de Caylus. |
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