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the King would be starved to death； so he resolved to hide himself
in some dark corner of the kitchen； and never take his eyes off the
cooking…pot。 His surprise was great when he presently saw a little
green dog with one ear slip softly into the kitchen； uncover the
pot； transfer all its contents to his basket； and run off。 The Prime
Minister followed hastily； and tracked him all through the town to
the cottage of the good old man； then he ran back to the King and
told him that he had found out where all his dinners and suppers
went。 The King； who was very much astonished； said he should
like to go and see for himself。 So he set out； accompanied by the
Prime Minister and a guard of archers； and arrived just in time to
find the old man and the Princess finishing his dinner。
The King ordered that they should be seized and bound with
ropes； and Frisk also。
When they were brought back to the palace some one told the
King； who said：
‘To…day is the last day of the respite granted to those impostors；
they shall have their heads cut off at the same time as these
stealers of my dinner。' Then the old man went down on his knees
before the King and begged for time to tell him everything。 While
he spoke the King for the first time looked attentively at the
Princess； because he was sorry to see how she cried； and when he
heard the old man saying that her name was Rosette； and that she
had been treacherously thrown into the sea； he turned head over
heels three times without stopping； in spite of being quite weak from
hunger； and ran to embrace her； and untied the ropes which bound
her with his own hands； declaring that he loved her with all his heart。
Messengers were sent to bring the Princes out of prison； and
they came very sadly； believing that they were to be executed at
once： the nurse and her daughter and the boatman were brought
also。 As soon as they came in Rosette ran to embrace her brothers；
while the traitors threw themselves down before her and begged for
mercy。 The King and the Princess were so happy that they freely
forgave them； and as for the good old man he was splendidly rewarded；
and spent the rest of his days in the palace。 The King of the
Peacocks made ample amends to the King and Prince for the way
in which they had been treated； and did everything in his power to
show how sorry he was。
The nurse restored to Rosette all her dresses and jewels； and the
bushel of gold pieces； the wedding was held at once； and they all
lived happily ever aftereven to Frisk； who enjoyed the greatest
luxury； and never had anything worse than the wing of a partridge
for dinner all the rest of his life。＇7＇
＇7＇ Madame d'Aulnoy。