$32 THE INVISIBLE PRINCE.

and being unable to satisfy their desire, it would make them
desperate. —“ Yet, for all that,” said the princess, “J could wish
my picture were in the hands of this same stranger.” Ob,
madam,” answered Abricotina, “is not his desire to see you
violent enough already ; would you augment it?”—* Yes,”
cried the princess, “a certain impulse of vanity, which I was
never sensible of till now, has bred this foolish desire in me.’””
Leander heard all this discourse, and lost nota tittle of what
she said ; and as there were some of her expressions that gave
him hopes, so there were others which absolutely destroyed
them. The princess presently asked Abricotina whether she
hhad seen anything extraordinary during her short travels?
“Madam,” said she, “I passed through one forest where I saw
certain creatures that resembled little children: they skip and
dance upon the trees like squirrels ; they are very ugly, but have
wonderful agility and address.”—“ I wish I had one of them,”
said the princess, “but if they are so nimble as you say they
are, it is impossible to catch one.”

Leander, who passed through the same forest, knew what
Abricotina meant, and presently wished himself in the place.
He caught a dozen of little monkeys, some bigger, some
less, and all of different colours, and with much ado put them
into a large sack ; then wishing himself at Paris, where he had
heard that a man might have anything for money, he went and
bought a little gold chariot, which he taught six green monkeys
to draw, harnessed with fine traces of flame-coloured morocco
leather, gilt. He went to another place, where he met with two
monkeys of merit, the most pleasant of which was called Bris-
cambril, the other Pierceforest ; both very spruce and well
educated. He dressed Briscambril like a king, and placed him
in the coach ; Pierceforest he made the coachman ; the others
were dressed like pages; all which he put into his sack, coach