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LABOULAYE 5 PALEY. BOOK honors us with her presence. To the noble lady of the golden cottage!" All began to huzzah and drink. Yvon contented himseif with raising his goblet to a level with his eyes. Suddenly he started and stood mute, his mouth open and his eyes fixed, like a man that has a vision. It was a vision. In the gold of the goblet Yvon saw his past life as in a mirror: the giant pursuing him; Finette dragging him along; both embarking in the ship that saved them; both landing on the shore of Brittany; he quitting her for an instant; she weeping at his departure. Where was she? By his side, of course. What other woman than Finette could be by the side of Yvon? He turned toward the fair-haired lady and cried out like a man treading on a serpent. Then, staggering as if he were drunk, he rose and looked around him with haggard eyes. At the sight of Finette he clasped his trembling hands and, dragging himself toward her, fell on his knees and exclaimed, " Finette, forgive me!" To forgive is the height of happiness. Before evening Finette was seated by the side of Yvon, both weeping and smiling. And what became of the fair-haired lady? No one knows. At the ery of Yvon she disappeared; but it was said that a wretched old hag was seen flying on a broomstick over the castle walls, chased by the dogs; and it was the common 44
