This was not, however, the view taken by
the Prince.
'Though every step that I take may perhaps lead me further from
her,' he said to himself, 'I am still thankful to know that she
is alive somewhere.'
On leaving the temple the Invisible Prince saw six paths lying
before him, each of which led through the wood. He was
hesitating which to choose, when he suddenly beheld two people
coming towards him, down the track which lay most to his right.
They turned out to be the Prince Gnome and his friend, and the
sudden desire to get some news of his sister, Princess Argentine,
caused the Invisible Prince to follow them and to listen to their
conversation.
'Do you think,' the Prince Gnome was saying, 'do you think that I
would not break my chains if I could? I know that the Princess
Argentine will never love me, yet each day I feel her dearer
still. And as if this were not enough, I have the horror of
feeling that she probably loves another. So I have resolved to
put myself out of my pain by means of the Golden Fountain. A
single drop of its water falling on the sand around will trace
the name of my rival in her heart. I dread the test, and yet
this very dread convinces me of my misfortune.
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