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496 trick she had played him, but she would rather have seen him dead than so indifferent to her. She knew not whether to be pleased or sorry that he had returned to the court, where his presence would again disturb her peace.

The King, impatient to impart to his sister the success of such an extraordinary event, entered her chamber, leaning on the Chevalier's arm. "Here is the conqueror of the dragon," said he, "who has rendered me the greatest service I could have received from a faithful subject; it was to you, Madam, he first expressed his desire to fight this monster; I hope you will appreciate the courage with which he exposed himself to the greatest danger." The Queen, composing her countenance, honoured Fortuné with a gracious reception, and a thousand praises; she thought him handsomer than when he went away, and her earnest look at him was to make him understand that her heart was not cured of its wound.

She would not trust to her eyes alone the task of explanation; and one day that she was hunting with the King, she gave up following the hounds on the plea of sudden indisposition; then, turning to the young Chevalier, who was near her, "You will do me the pleasure," said she, "of remaining with me; I wish to alight, and rest a little while. Go," she continued, to those who accompanied her, "do not leave my brother!" She alighted instantly with Floride, and seated herself by the side of a stream, where she remained for some time in profound silence, thinking how she could best commence the conversation.

At length, raising her eyes, she fixed them upon the Chevalier, and said, "As good intentions are not always obvious, I fear you have not been able to penetrate the motives which induced me to press the King to send you to fight the dragon; I felt sure, from a presentiment that never deceives me, that you would acquit yourself like a brave man; and your enemies thought so lightly of your courage, because you did not go to the army, that it was necessary you should perform some such action to stop their mouths. I should have informed you of what they said upon this subject," continued she, "and ought perhaps to have done so, but I feared the consequences which might result from your resentment, and thought it would be better for you to silence such ill-intentioned people by your intrepid conduct in danger, than