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116 young, so brave, and so strong that I feared neither the King nor his people.

I happened to arrive just when the King was holding audience, and he was graciously pleased to see me without more than three or four hours' delay in the anteroom.

When the curtained doorway was opened I advanced into the audience-hall and saw—Vanella!

For seventeen minutes I saw nothing but the Princess! In fact, the guards had just been ordered to show me out as a dumb and senseless wanderer, when I came to myself, and began to catch sight of the King dimly through the edges of the glory which in my eyes surrounded the Princess.

"Pardon, father of Vanella the peerless," said I, "the stupefaction of one who indeed knew your daughter to be beautiful, but had no idea what a pretty girl she was. I never saw any princess who can hold a rushlight to her; and it was very sudden. I am better now."

"We are glad you are better," said the King, "and hope you will soon be well enough to tell us what you wish."

"I have come to marry Her Effulgent Perfectness the Princess Vanella!"

"Yes?" said the King, with a slightly sarcastic air.

"Provided I can win her," I added. "And that we shall soon see."

I think the old man liked my courage. At all events, he called me to him, and presented me to the Princess. For he was a very sensible ruler and an indulgent father; and he had no idea of marrying his daughter to any man she did n't think worthy of her. So in all cases, permission had to be given by the Princess before the candidate could begin the ordeal. But so beautiful was Vanella, and so eager were the young nobility to win her hand, that they all looked handsome and daring when in her presence. I think I must have been attractive in those days, for Vanella says now that she never