Whilst she was thus keeping the best company, the King and the Prince determined to find the King of the Peacocks, if there was one in the world. They decided that a portrait of the Princess Rosette should be taken, and they had one so finely painted that it did all but speak. They then said to her, "Since you will not marry any one but the King of the Peacocks, we are about to set out together in search of him throughout the world. If we find him we shall be very happy. Take care of the kingdom till we return."
Rosette thanked them for the trouble they were taking. She said, "She would carefully govern the kingdom, and that during their absence all her pleasure would consist in contemplating the beautiful peacock and making Fretillon dance." They could not refrain from tears in bidding each other farewell.
Behold these two princes on their journey, inquiring of everybody, "Do you know the King of the Peacocks?" Everybody answered, "No, no." They travelled on still further, and at last went so far—so far, that nobody has ever been such a distance.
They arrived at the kingdom of Mayflies. Never before were seen so many. They made such a buzzing that the King was afraid he should never hear distinctly again. He asked one who seemed the most sensible amongst them, if he knew whereabouts he could find the King of the Peacocks. "Sire," said the Mayfly to him, "his kingdom is thirty thousand leagues from this place. You have taken the longest road to it." "And how do you know that?" said the King. "Because," replied the Mayfly, "we know you very well, and go every year to pass two or three months in your gardens." The King and his brother embraced the Mayfly,—they became great friends, and dined together. They saw all the sights of the kingdom, admiring its curiosities, the smallest leaf on any tree in it being worth a pistole; after which they set out again to finish their journey; and, as they had learned the way, they were not long about it. They saw all the trees laden with peacocks, and every part of the kingdom so full of them, that you could hear them scream and talk at a distance of two leagues.
The King said to his brother, "If the King of the Peacocks is a peacock himself, how does our sister mean to marry him?
