The Little Soldier · page 21 2 3 4101She invited John to come in, and set before him some wine and fried fish, and John ate and drank and felt comforted, and he told his adventures to the little fisher-girl.102But though she was very pretty, with a skin as white as a gull’s breast, for which her neighbours gave her the name of the Seagull, he did not think about her at all, for he was dreaming of the green eyes of the Princess.103When he had finished his tale, she was filled with pity and said:104‘Last week, when I was fishing, my net suddenly grew very heavy, and when I drew it in I found a great copper vase, fastened with lead.105I brought it home and placed it on the fire.106When the lead had melted a little, I opened the vase with my knife and drew out a mantle of red cloth and a purse containing fifty crowns.107That is the mantle, covering my bed, and I have kept the money for my marriage-portion.108But take it and go to the nearest seaport, where you will find a ship sailing for the Low Countries, and when you become King you will bring me back my fifty crowns.’109And the Kinglet answered: ‘When I am King of the Low Countries, I will make you lady-in-waiting to the Queen, for you are as good as you are beautiful.110So farewell,’ said he, and as the Seagull went back to her fishing he rolled himself in the mantle and threw himself down on a heap of dried grass, thinking of the strange things that had befallen him, till he suddenly exclaimed:111‘Oh, how I wish I was in the capital of the Low Countries!’112IV113In one moment the little soldier found himself standing before a splendid palace.114He rubbed his eyes and pinched himself, and when he was quite sure he was not dreaming he said to a man who was smoking his pipe before the door, ‘Where am I?’115‘Where are you?116Can’t you see?117Before the King’s palace, of course.’118‘What King?’119‘Why the King of the Low Countries!’ replied the man, laughing and supposing that he was mad.120Was there ever anything so strange?121But as John was an honest fellow, he was troubled at the thought that the Seagull would think he had stolen her mantle and purse.122And he began to wonder how he could restore them to her the soonest.123Then he remembered that the mantle had some hidden charm that enabled the bearer to transport himself at will from place to place, and in order to make sure of this he wished himself in the best inn of the town.124In an instant he was there.125Enchanted with this discovery, he ordered supper, and as it was too late to visit the King that night he went to bed.126The next day, when he got up, he saw that all the houses were wreathed with flowers and covered with flags, and all the church bells were ringing.127The little soldier inquired the meaning of all this noise, and was told that the Princess Ludovine, the King’s beautiful daughter, had been found, and was about to make her triumphal entry.128‘That will just suit me,’ thought the Kinglet; ‘I will stand at the door and see if she knows me.’129He had scarcely time to dress himself when the golden coach of Ludovine went by.130She had a crown of gold upon her head, and the King and Queen sat by her side.131By accident her eyes fell upon the little soldier, and she grew pale and turned away her head.132‘Didn’t she know me?’ the little soldier asked himself, ‘or was she angry because I missed our meetings?’ and he followed the crowd till he got to the palace.133When the royal party entered he told the guards that it was he who had delivered the Princess, and wished to speak to the King.134But the more he talked the more they believed him mad and refused to let him pass.135The little soldier was furious.136He felt that he needed his pipe to calm him, and he entered a tavern and ordered a pint of beer.137‘It is this miserable soldier’s helmet,’ said he to himself ‘If I had only money enough I could look as splendid as the lords of the Court; but what is the good of thinking of that when I have only the remains of the Seagull’s fifty crowns?’138He took out his purse to see what was left, and he found that there were still fifty crowns.139‘The Seagull must have miscounted,’ thought he, and he paid for his beer.140Then he counted his money again, and there were still fifty crowns.141He took away five and counted a third time, but there were still fifty.142He emptied the purse altogether and then shut it; when he opened it the fifty crowns were still there!143Then a plan came into his head, and he determined to go at once to the Court tailor and coachbuilder.144He ordered the tailor to make him a mantle and vest of blue velvet embroidered with pearls, and the coachbuilder to make him a golden coach like the coach of the Princess Ludovine.145If the tailor and the coachbuilder were quick he promised to pay them double.146A few days later the little soldier was driven through the city in his coach drawn by six white horses, and with four lacqueys richly dressed standing behind.147Inside sat John, clad in blue velvet, with a bouquet of immortelles in his hand and a scarf bound round his arm.148He drove twice round the city, throwing money to the right and left, and the third time, as he passed under the palace windows, he saw Ludovine lift a corner of the curtain and peep out.149V150The next day no one talked of anything but the rich lord who had distributed money as he drove along.151The talk even reached the Court, and the Queen, who was very curious, had a great desire to see the wonderful Prince.152‘Very well,’ said the King; ‘let him be asked to come and play cards with me.’153This time the Kinglet was not late for his appointment.154The King sent for the cards and they sat down to play.155They had six games, and John always lost.156The stake was fifty crowns, and each time he emptied his purse, which was full the next instant.157The sixth time the King exclaimed, ‘It is amazing!’158The Queen cried, ‘It is astonishing!’159The Princess said, ‘It is bewildering!’160‘Not so bewildering,’ replied the little soldier, ‘as your change into a serpent.’161‘Hush!’ interrupted the King, who did not like the subject.162‘I only spoke of it,’ said John, ‘because you see in me the man who delivered the Princess from the goblins and whom she promised to marry.’163‘Is that true?’ asked the King of the Princess.164‘Quite true,’ answered Ludovine.165‘But I told my deliverer to be ready to go with me when I passed by with my coach.166I passed three times, but he slept so soundly that no one could wake him.’167‘What is your name?’ said the King, ‘and who are you?’168‘My name is John.169I am a soldier, and my father is a boatman.’170‘You are not a fit husband for my daughter.171Still, if you will give us your purse, you shall have her for your wife.’172‘My purse does not belong to me, and I cannot give it away.’173‘But you can lend it to me till our wedding-day,’ said the Princess with one of those glances the little soldier never could resist.174‘And when will that be?’175‘At Easter,’ said the monarch.176‘Or in a blue moon!’ murmured the Princess; but the Kinglet did not hear her and let her take his purse.177Next evening he presented himself at the palace to play picquet with the King and to make his court to the Princess.178But he was told that the King had gone into the country to receive his rents.179He returned the following day, and had the same answer.180Then he asked to see the Queen, but she had a headache.181When this had happened five or six times, he began to understand that they were making fun of him.182‘That is not the way for a King to behave,’ thought John.183‘Old scoundrel!’ and then suddenly he remembered his red cloak.184‘Ah, what an idiot I am!’ said he.185‘Of course I can get in whenever I like with the help of this.’186That evening he was in front of the palace, wrapped in his red cloak.187On the first story one window was lighted, and John saw on the curtains the shadow of the Princess.checked by a teacher188‘I wish myself in the room of the Princess Ludovine,’ said he, and in a second he was there.189The King’s daughter was sitting before a table counting the money that she emptied from the inexhaustible purse.190‘Eight hundred and fifty, nine hundred, nine hundred and fifty--’191‘A thousand,’ finished John.192‘Good evening everybody!’193The Princess jumped and gave a little cry.194‘You here!195What business have you to do it?196Leave at once, or I shall call--’197‘I have come,’ said the Kinglet, ‘to remind you of your promise.198The day after to-morrow is Easter Day, and it is high time to think of our marriage.’199Ludovine burst out into a fit of laughter.200‘Our marriage!1 2 3 4← previousThe Golden Blackbirdnext →The Magic Swan↑ back to The Green Fairy BookThis page in Markdown → https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7277/22/page/2/