The Green Fairy Book

ted money as he drove along. The talk even reached the Court, and the Que

; 'let him be asked to com

let was not late f

six games, and John always lost. The stake was fifty crowns, and

e King exclaimed,

ied, 'It is

said, 'It is

ed the little soldier, 'as

the King, who did

see in me the man who delivered the Princess f

asked the King

ready to go with me when I passed by with my coach. I passed t

?' said the King,

am a soldier, and my

ter. Still, if you will give us your pu

elong to me, and I c

day,' said the Princess with one of those gl

n will t

,' said th

Princess; but the Kinglet did not

at the King had gone into the country to receive his rents. He returned the following day, and had the same answer. Then he asked to se

e,' thought John. 'Old scoundrel!' and t

e. 'Of course I can get in whene

front of the palace, wr

lighted, and John saw on the cur

the Princess Ludovine,' said h

e a table counting the money that she

fty, nine hundred, ni

shed John. 'Good e

ry. 'You here! What business have you t

your promise. The day after to-morrow is Easter D

u really been foolish enough to believe that the daughter of the

back the pur

incess, and put it c

took the Princess in his arms. 'I wish,' he cried, 'that we were at the ends of the e

. What do you say, madam?' The Princess understood that it was no time for jesting, and did not ans