He apologised to them, for he spoke their language. Furibon, transported with rage, drew his little sword, which was not longer than a lady's fan, and had certainly done some mischief had not the king advanced to meet the ambassadors, and to his great surprise observed the commotion. Finding that they did not comprehend his signs, Leander humbled himself still more before Furibon but the ambassadors as well as the persons in their suite, imagining this was in jest, laughed till they were almost in fits, and filliped the prince on his nose, after the fashion of their own country. Leander was in despair he exhausted himself with his efforts to make them understand that it was the king's son they were treating so unceremoniously, but all in vain and unfortunately the interpreter was awaiting them in the hall of audience. Then observing Furibon they took him for his dwarf, laid hold of him by the arm and, turned him round and round in spite of all his resistance. As soon as the envoys saw Leander they advanced towards him with profound salutations, evincing by signs their admiration. One day, some ambassadors having arrived at the court from a far country, the prince, accompanied by Leander, went into a gallery to see them pass. 'You are vastly happy,' said he, looking at him askance 'the women praise and applaud you they are not so indulgent to me.' 'My lord,' said Leander, modestly, 'their respect for you prevents such familiarity.' 'They are quite right,' rejoined Furibon 'I should beat them into a jelly to teach them their duty.' All this caused them mortally to hate Furibon this he perceived, and generally resented it on the young Leander. He would accuse them publicly of being painted, and eagerly carried every scandalous story he could pick up about them to the queen, who would not only reprimand them severely, but make them fast by way of punishment. Sometimes he would tell them their manners were coarse and countrified.

Sometimes he would find fault with their dress.

The little brute never spoke to a lady but to utter some rudeness. He rarely quitted Furibon and that association served but to make the latter appear more hideous. They called him 'The handsome indifferent.' All these attacks upon him failed to produce any change in his manner. He was a great favourite with the ladies but he attached himself to no one in particular. His tutor's son was named Leander, and everybody loved him. The king having chosen the father of this young nobleman to train up Furibon, expressly commanded the prince to be very obedient to him but Furibon was so stubborn that an hundred floggings would not cure him of a single fault. High-spirited, and yet most tractable, there was a peculiar felicity and grace in his every expression. Never was there a youth blessed with a finer disposition. As it was, he had long ceased to think of it, and applied himself solely to the education of an only son. When he was of an age to require a tutor, the king selected a prince who had a dormant claim to the crown, which he might have maintained like a brave man, had not his estates fallen into decay. After long consideration she called him Furibon. She was desirous to give him a name that would inspire respect and fear. To find favour in the eyes of this princess, it was necessary to vow that her son was both handsome and witty. The king had observed this from the prince's earliest infancy but the queen doted upon him, and made him much worse by her outrageous indulgence, which too plainly indicated the power he possessed over her. He was an obstinate brute, who caused the misery of every one about him. He was as fat as the biggest man, at the same time that he was as short as the smallest dwarf but the ugliness of his face and the deformity of his body were nothing in comparison with the malignity of his disposition.

Once upon a time there was a king and a queen who had but one son, whom they were passionately fond of, though he was exceedingly deformed.

Tarte abricotine