Part 10

They brought word to the King that the delinquents had been captured, and he replied, "To-morrow, the last day of reprieve for my two insolent prisoners will expire; they and these thieves shall die together." He then went into his court of justice. The old man threw himself on his knees before him, and begged to be allowed to tell him everything. As he was speaking, the King looked towards the beautiful Princess, and his heart was touched when he saw her crying. When, therefore, the old man said that she was the Princess Rosette who had been thrown into the water, in spite of the weak condition he was in from having starved for so long, he gave three bounds of joy, ran and embraced her, and untied her cords, declaring the while that he loved her with all his heart.

They at once went to find the Princes, who thought they were going to be put to death, and came forward in great dejection and hanging their heads; the nurse and her daughter were brought in at the same time. The brothers and sister recognised one another, as soon as they were brought face to face, and Rosette threw herself on her brothers' necks. The nurse and her daughter, and the boatman, begged on their knees for mercy, and the universal rejoicing and their own joy were so great, that the King and the Princess pardoned them, and gave the good old man a handsome reward, and from that time he continued to live in the palace.

Finally, the King of the Peacocks did all in his power to atone for his conduct to the King and his brother, expressing the deepest regret at having treated them so badly. The nurse restored to Rosette all her beautiful clothes and the bushel of golden crowns, and the wedding festivities lasted a fortnight. Everyone was happy down to Fretillon, who ate nothing but partridge wings for the rest of his life.

THE END

_Colston & Coy. Limited, Printers, Edinburgh._

Transcriber's Note:

Punctuation has been standardised. Changes to the original publication have been made as follows:

Page 64 as he was entirly governed by _changed to_ as he was entirely governed by

Page 70 your are!" said she to them, _changed to_ you are!" said she to them,

Page 110 they would he obliged to go and _changed to_ they would be obliged to go and

Page 115 withdrew, and the merchant said ro _changed to_ withdrew, and the merchant said to

Page 124 reassurred, for the Beast, after _changed to_ reassured, for the Beast, after

Page 148 on a piece of rag; for she possesed _changed to_ on a piece of rag; for she possessed

Page 151 of the room. The The King and _changed to_ of the room. The King and

Page 163 windwill, and three rows of teeth _changed to_ windmill, and three rows of teeth

Page 191 said that she was the Prrincess Rosette _changed to_ said that she was the Princess Rosette

End of Project Gutenberg's Tales of Passed Times, by Charles Perrault