400 ‘THE WHITE CAT.

and in a short time I completed a ladder long enough to reach
to the ground. 1 now sent my parrot to the prince, to beg he

é, would come to
the usual place,
as I wished to
speak with him.
He did not
fail ; and find-
ing the ladder,
mounted it, and
quickly entered
my tower. This
at-first alarmed
me, but the
charms of his conversation had restored me to tranquillity,
when all at once the window opened, and the fairy Violent,
mounted on the dragon’s back, rushed into the tower. My
beloved prince thought of nothing but how to defend me from
their fury ; for I had had time to relate to him my story,
previous to this cruel interruption; but their numbers over-
powered him, and the fairy Violent had the barbarity to com-
mand the dragon to devour my prince before my eyes. In my
despair, I would have thrown myself also into the mouth of
the horrible monster ; but this they took care to prevent,
saying, my life should be preserved for greater punishment.
The fairy then touched me with her wand, and I instantly
became a white cat. She next conducted me to this palace,
which belonged to my father, and gave me a train of cats for
my attendants, together with the twelve hands that waited on
your highness. She then informed me of my birth, and
the death of my parents, and pronounced upon me what she
imagined the greatest of maledictions: that I should not be