surprised to see that the crystal which served for a wall had
grown cloudy, as if some one had breathed on it, and, what was
more, wherever she moved the brightness of the crystal always
became clouded. This was enough to cause the Princess to suspect
that her lover had returned. In order to set the Prince of the
Air's mind at rest she began by being very gracious to him, so
that when she begged that her captivity might be a little
lightened she should not be refused. At first the only favour
she asked was to be allowed to walk for one hour every day up and
down the long gallery. This was granted, and the Invisible
Prince speedily took the opportunity of handing her the stone,
which she at once slipped into her mouth. No words can paint the
fury of her captor at her disappearance. He ordered the spirits
of the air to fly through all space, and to bring back Rosalie
wherever she might be. They instantly flew off to obey his
commands, and spread themselves over the whole earth.

Meantime Rosalie and the Invisible Prince had reached, hand in
hand, a door of the gallery which led through a terrace into the
gardens. In silence they glided along, and thought themselves
already safe, when a furious monster dashed itself by accident
against Rosalie and the Invisible Prince, and in her fright she
let go his hand. No one can speak as long as he is invisible,
and besides, they knew that the spirits were all around them, and
at the slightest sound they would be recognised; so all they
could do was to feel about in the hope that their hands might
once more meet.

But, alas! the joy of liberty lasted but a short time. The
Princess, having wandered in vain up and down the forest, stopped