After they had conversed a little while, supper was served to them, during which the Prince entertained the Cat by telling her all sorts of news, and he discovered that she was well informed as to what was taking place in the world.

Supper over, various cats came in, dressed in fancy costumes, and danced a ballet, then the White Cat bid her visitor good-night, and the hands which had conducted him before, led him to a bed-chamber.

Early the next morning the hands awoke him, and dressing him in a handsome hunting costume, led him to the courtyard, where he found the White Cat upon a splendid monkey, with about five hundred other cats assembled, all ready for the chase; and never had the Prince enjoyed anything so much, for although mounted only upon a wooden horse, he rode at a great pace.

Day after day passed in such delights as made the Prince almost forget his own country.

“Alas!” said he to the White Cat again and again, “how sad I shall be to leave you!  I love you so dearly!  Either become a woman, or change me into a cat!”

A year passes very quickly when one has no care or trouble, and is enjoying life.  But the White Cat knew when the Prince should return home, and reminded him, saying, “Don’t you know you have only three days to look for the little dog for your father, and that your brothers will have found the most beautiful?”

Then the Prince came to himself, and cried, “By what charm have you made me forget what is so important?  Where shall I find the dog, and a horse swift enough for such a journey?” And he was in great distress.

The White Cat comforted him, however, saying that the wooden horse would take him to his journey’s end sufficiently quickly, and that she would herself also provide the little dog; then she handed to him a walnut, saying, “Put your ear to this shell and you will hear him barking.”

So the Prince met his brothers, and they came into the King’s presence.

[Illustration]

The two elder sons had brought little dogs so delicate and small that one hardly dared to touch them, and none could decide which should have the kingdom.  Then the youngest took from his pocket the nut the Cat had given to him, and there was seen a little dog so tiny that it could go through a ring without touching it; he was also able to dance, and play the castanets, while his ears touched the ground.  The King was embarassed, for it was impossible to find a flaw in this lovely little creature.

However as he did not desire to part with his crown, he declared that they had succeeded so well in their first quest that now he should like them to search, by land and sea, for a piece of linen so fine that it would pass through the eye of a very small needle.

Then the three Princes set out once more, but the youngest mounted his wooden horse and repaired at once to the White Cat, who was rejoiced to see him, and the second year passed by as the first had done.