it was afternoon when the gardener opened the cell of joyeuse and bade him follow to the great hall of the palace where the princess would hear his crime and appoint his punishment.

with a heavy heart he followed down the white marble corridors on the heels of the giant gardener, who muttered to himself as they went. now and then he would turn to look at joyeuse and shake his head, as though foreseeing for him some dreadful punishment. at last they came to a great hall, carpeted with green and ceiled with blue, while the walls were of rosy pink. at the further end of the hall was a throne of gold; and upon it sat the princess fleurette. but joyeuse dared not lift his eyes to look at her.

he walked slowly down the hall after the gardener, and they took their stand near the throne, but behind the first rank of people. these were the gayly dressed attendants upon[25] a great prince, who had come that day to woo the princess. even at that moment the herald was calling out his name and titles—"fortemain, prince of kalabria, knight of the silver feather, captain of a hundred spears!" the prince fortemain himself bowed before the throne, while his attendants stood behind him, bearing most wonderful gifts for the royal lady. there were caskets of jewels, pieces of rich silks and ermine fur, singing birds in cages, little monkeys, and other curious pets from far lands. there were never finer presents than those which the prince fortemain brought to the princess fleurette.

a chorus of "ohs!" went up from the maids of honor when they saw the richness of these gifts. but joyeuse dared not even look up to see if his flower-maiden were among the white-robed band. he feared to betray her to the fierce eyes of the gardener, who was watching him closely.

the prince fortemain made his speech very prettily, offering the princess his heart and hand, and all his riches, as well as his kingdom[26] beyond the seas, to which he hoped to carry her.

then the princess spoke in answer, very gently. and the sound of her voice was like music in the hall.

"i have no wish to leave my own little kingdom of flowers," she said. "i am happy and contented here. i have no wish to exchange hearts, save with him who understands mine well. let him find it where it is already bestowed, among my flowers. choose my favorite flower, dear prince, and i am yours."

at the sound of her voice joyeuse started, and for the first time looked up. there she sat upon the golden throne,—his own dear flower-maiden, she who had met him for three mornings in the garden! but now she wore no coarse gown of green. she was robed all in white, from her head to her little feet, which were shod with gold. a golden girdle she wore, and a golden band confined her golden hair. she glanced at joyeuse as she spoke the last words to the prince, and joyeuse was sure that her eyes twinkled. instantly[27] a bold thought came into his head, for he was a bold fellow. he had been brought to her as a trespasser, ready for punishment. he would remain as a suitor! this princess was his little playmate; he could not, would not lose her. had she not thrice called him a prince? he would woo her, then, like any prince.

but now the princess was speaking again, and this time she looked straight at him. "whom have we here, good gardener?" she asked, trying to force a little frown.

"a trespasser, your highness," answered the gardener, in his gruff voice, hustling joyeuse to the foot of the throne, "a trespasser whom i found in your royal garden this morning at a disgustingly early hour, sitting with a fair maiden among the lavender, strumming on a lute. i saw not the face of the girl, but i fancy she must be one of your own maids of honor. she also should be punished for listening to the music of the wicked youth."

a little cry of horror arose from the gay[28] group about the princess, as they looked at one another, wondering who the shocking early-riser could be. the princess looked sharply at joyeuse and said: "tell us the name of the maiden, sirrah, and you shall be pardoned of your grievous fault."

joyeuse looked up at the princess and said gently: "lady, i will tell her name to you, and to you alone, if you ask it; though i think that you guess it already. but first, i pray you, hear my suit. for i also have come hither as a suitor."

at these words the princess started, and her cheek flushed. the gardener seized joyeuse by the arm to drag him away. but fleurette made a sign for him to stand back.

"let the stranger speak," she said, "and let him show, if he can, why, instead of being punished, he should be welcomed as one of our suitors."

then joyeuse knelt on the lowest step of the throne and laid at his maiden's feet his sword and his lute and the scrip, or little pocket, which he wore at his side.[29]

"fair princess," he said, "i come with scanty gifts and with no attendants—poor and alone. but all that i have i offer you; my sword for your protection, my music for your joy, my little learning for your aid in sickness and in health. to atone for my boldness in forcing your garden gate i offer the service of all these for as long as you will have them. and withal i offer my merry heart, as true and faithful as that of any prince in the world; but more loving than any."

at this saying the prince fortemain pushed forward indignantly. "you shall not listen to these idle words, o princess!" he cried. "this fellow has no right to speak thus to you. he is no prince; he is but a wandering minstrel and vagabond. let him be flogged from the gates."

"ay, let him be flogged away!" echoed the gardener and others, and they jostled closer as if to seize him. but joyeuse still knelt at the feet of his flower-maiden, not at all afraid. the princess rose, and, stamping her little foot, angrily commanded her people[30] to be quiet. then she spoke to joyeuse, and the anger was gone from her voice.

"it is true you are no prince," she said. "what have you to say in reply to this prince's word?"

"am i no prince?" he answered, looking her straight in the eyes. "the fairest princess in the world has thrice named me prince,—prince of minstrels, prince of doctors, prince of teachers. does not that make me a prince indeed?"

there was a silence in the hall at this bold answer. then fleurette beckoned to her the wise man of the court, a wise man dressed all in black, with a long white beard and hair like silver thistledown.

"o wise man, if a princess gave him these titles, is he indeed a prince?" she asked, and her voice was eager.

the wise man thought for a little time, then nodded gravely thrice. "ay, my princess, so it is written in the book of true chivalry. if he has been so honored, he is in deed and in degree a prince."[31]

"nay!" cried the prince fortemain, "i say nay! she has not also named him the prince of courage. the book of true chivalry declares that he is no very prince who cannot do battle nobly for his lady's sake."

"that will i gladly do," said joyeuse eagerly. "i can wield sword as well as any prince alive."

the cheeks of the princess glowed brightly. "let him prove it, prince fortemain," she cried. "you shall punish him for his fault and for his boast if his words prove false. but if he bear himself the better man he shall be called a worthy suitor like yourself, and shall have an equal chance with you."

fortemain grumbled and looked sulky, for he felt ashamed to fight with a wandering adventurer. but, since the princess so commanded, there was nothing for him but to obey. he drew his jeweled sword, and joyeuse lifted his plain one from where it lay on the step of the throne. the courtiers made a ring around the two, and the bout began.

one—two! one—two! the bright[32] blades flashed, and the two lads turned one about the other, seeking each the advantage. they were both skillful fencers; but the watchers soon saw that joyeuse was the better man. dextrously he thrust and warily he parried. at last, with a sudden jump and twist, he sent the weapon spinning from the hand of fortemain. away across the hall it flew; and, with red face and scowling brow, the prince was forced to seek it where it fell.

"well done! well done!" cried the crowd, clapping their hands, forgetting the fault of joyeuse in the wonder of his bravery. and "well done!" cried fleurette. "i, a princess, name you in addition to your other titles the prince of courage. arise, prince joyeuse. your suit is answered thus, as i answer every prince who does me the honor to seek my hand. if you be the very prince for me you will know where to find my heart. seek it where it is hidden in my garden. my heart is with my favorite flower. farewell, my princes both. an hour before noontide to-morrow i will hold audience. then he who[33] is to be punished and he who is to be rewarded shall learn their fate."

saying thus she rose and, stepping lightly down from the throne, passed out of the hall. immediately all the lords and ladies followed her, leaving the two suitors alone together.

then the prince fortemain scowled at joyeuse, and joyeuse scowled back at him; and they went out of the hall by opposite doors. for they loved not each other.

joyeuse was moving slowly away when the gardener approached and touched him on the shoulder. "how now, must i return to the dungeon as a criminal?" asked joyeuse, flushing red.

"nay. matters have changed, my lord prince," answered the gardener sulkily. "you seem no longer a trespasser, but a suitor. i do not understand how the seesaw has tilted so suddenly. but certainly you are to be lodged in no dungeon cell. my lady has given orders that you be shown to a chamber as fine as that of the prince fortemain himself. come with me, if it please you."[34]

joyeuse was then taken to a little chamber, not high, but very pleasant, looking out upon the garden through a window latticed with vines.

"you are free to come and go, master," said the gardener, and left him with a low bow.

now by the time all these things were finished it was late in the day, and joyeuse said to himself: "i will not search for the precious flower to-night. i know that my dear flower-maiden prefers the early morning garden, and among the freshly opened buds which i have seen her caress so kindly must be the one she loves the best. i will now seek sleep, for i am very weary. but early will i waken to-morrow morning, to seek the flower which is most dear to her."

so joyeuse lay down on his bed, and was soon asleep, dreaming sweetly of the morrow. for he nothing doubted but that he should find the right and only flower, since he loved the princess so dearly that he must at last read her secret.