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He travelled many weary days without hearing a single word of the
lost Princess； till one morning； as he was walking through a
thick forest； he suddenly perceived a magnificent palace standing
at the end of a pine avenue； and his heart bounded to think that
he might be gazing on Rosalie's prison。 He hastened his steps；
and quickly arrived at the gate of the palace； which was formed
of a single agate。 The gate swung open to let him through； and
he next passed successively three courts； surrounded by deep
ditches filled with running water； with birds of brilliant
plumage flying about the banks。 Everything around was rare and
beautiful； but the Prince scarcely raised his eyes to all these
wonders。 He thought only of the Princess and where he should
find her； but in vain he opened every door and searched in every
corner； he neither saw Rosalie nor anyone else。 At last there
was no place left for him to search but a little wood； which
contained in the centre a sort of hall built entirely of
orange…trees； with four small rooms opening out of the corners。
Three of these were empty except for statues and wonderful
things； but in the fourth the Invisible Prince caught sight of
Rosalie。 His joy at beholding her again was； however； somewhat
lessened by seeing that the Prince of the Air was kneeling at her
feet； and pleading his own cause。 But it was in vain that he
implored her to listen； she only shook her head。 'No；' was all
she would say； 'you snatched me from my father whom I loved； and
all the splendour in the world can never console me。 Go！ I can
never feel anything towards you but hate and contempt。' With
these words she turned away and entered her own apartments。
Unknown to herself the Invisible Prince had followed her； but
fearing to be discovered by the Princess in the presence of
others； he made up his mind to wait quietly till dark； and
employed the long hours in writing a poem to the Princess； which
he laid on the bed beside her。 This done； he thought of nothing
but how best to deliver Rosalie； and he resolved to take
advantage of a visit which the Prince of the Air paid every year
to his mother and brothers in order to strike the blow。
One day Rosalie was sitting alone in her room thinking of her
troubles when she suddenly saw a pen get up from off the desk and
begin to write all by itself on a sheet of white paper。 As she
did not know that it was guided by an invisible hand she was very
much astonished； and the moment that the pen had ceased to move
she instantly went over to the table； where she found some lovely
verses； telling her that another shared her distresses； whatever
they might be； and loved her with all his heart； and that he
would never rest until he had delivered her from the hands of the
man she hated。 Thus encouraged； she told him all her story； and
of the arrival of a young stranger in her father's palace； whose
looks had so charmed her that since that day she had thought of
no one else。 At these words the Prince could contain himself no
longer。 He took the pebble from his mouth； and flung himself at
Rosalie's feet。
When they had got over the first rapture of meeting they began to
make plans to escape from the power of the Prince of the Air。
But this did not prove easy； for the magic stone would only serve
for one person at a time； and in order to save Rosalie the Prince
of the Golden Isle would have to expose himself to the fury of
his enemy。 But Rosalie would not hear of this。
'No； Prince；' she said； 'since you are here this island no
longer feels a prison。 Besides； you are under the protection of
a Fairy； who always visits your father's court at this season。
Go instantly and seek her； and when she is found implore the gift
of another stone with similar powers。 Once you have that； there
will be no further difficulty in the way of escape。'
The Prince of the Air returned a few days later from his mother's
palace； but the Invisible Prince had already set out。 He had；
however； entirely forgotten the road by which he had come； and
lost himself for so long in the forest； that when at last he
reached home the Fairy had already left； and； in spite of all his
grief； there was nothing for it but to wait till the Fairy's next
visit； and allow Rosalie to suffer three months longer。 This
thought drove him to despair； and he had almost made up his mind
to return to the place of her captivity； when one day； as he was
strolling along an alley in the woods； he saw a huge oak open its
trunk； and out of it step two Princes in earnest conversation。
As our hero had the magic stone in his mouth they imagined
themselves alone； and did not lower their voices。
'What！' said one； 'are you always going to allow yourself to be
tormented by a passion which can never end happily； and in your
whole kingdom can you find nothing else to satisfy you？'
'What is the use；' replied the other； 'of being Prince of the
Gnomes； and having a mother who is queen over all the four
elements； if I cannot win the love of the Princess Argentine？
From the moment that I first saw her； sitting in the forest
surrounded by flowers； I have never ceased to think of her night
and day； and； although I love her； I am quite convinced that she
will never care for me。 You know that I have in my palace the
cabinets of the years。 In the first； great mirrors reflect the
past； in the second； we contemplate the present； in the third；
the future can be read。 It was here that I fled after I had
gazed on the Princess Argentine； but instead of love I only saw
scorn and contempt。 Think how great must be my devotion； when；
in spite of my fate； I still love on！'
Now the Prince of the Golden Isle was enchanted with this
conversation； for the Princess Argentine was his sister； and he
hoped； by means of her influence over the Prince of the Gnomes；
to obtain from his brother the release of Rosalie。 So he
joyfully returned to his father's palace； where he found his
friend the Fairy； who at once presented him with a magic pebble
like his own。 As may be imagined； he lost no time in setting out
to deliver Rosalie； and travelled so fast that he soon arrived at
the forest； in the midst of which she lay a captive。 But though
he found the palace he did not find Rosalie。 He hunted high and
low； but there was no sign of her； and his despair was so great
that he was ready； a thousand times over； to take his own life。
At last he remembered the conversation of the two Princes about
the cabinets of the years； and that if he could manage to reach
the oak tree； he would be certain to discover what had become of
Rosalie。 Happily； he soon found out the secret of the passage
and entered the cabinet of the present； where he saw reflected in
the mirrors the unfortunate Rosalie sitting on the floor weeping
bitterly； and surrounded with genii； who never left her night or
day。
This sight only increased the