Old French Fairy Tales

Book Excerpt: ...back entrance and ran at once to the queen, who was anxiously expecting him. On seeing him so deadly pale and his eyes inflamed from the tears of awful remorse, she knew that Blondine had perished."Is it done?" said she. Gourmandinet bowed his head. He had not the strength to speak."Come," said she, "behold your reward!"She pointed to a large box full of delicious bonbons of every variety. She commanded a valet to raise the box and place it upon one of the mules which had brought her jewelry."I confide this box to Gourmandinet, in order that he may take it to my father," she said. "Go, boy, and return in a month for another." She placed in his hand at the same time a purse full of gold. Gourmandinet mounted the mule in perfect silence and set off in full gallop. The mule was obstinate and wilful and soon grew restive under the weight of the box and began to prance and kick. He did this so effectually that he threw Gourmandinet and his precious box of bonbon...