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stamped with the gold tulips of Spain； and with the arms and
emblems of the house of Hapsburg。
The little Dwarf looked in wonder all round him； and was half…
afraid to go on。 The strange silent horsemen that galloped so
swiftly through the long glades without making any noise； seemed to
him like those terrible phantoms of whom he had heard the charcoal…
burners speaking … the Comprachos； who hunt only at night； and if
they meet a man； turn him into a hind； and chase him。 But he
thought of the pretty Infanta； and took courage。 He wanted to find
her alone； and to tell her that he too loved her。 Perhaps she was
in the room beyond。
He ran across the soft Moorish carpets； and opened the door。 No！
She was not here either。 The room pty。
It was a throne…room； used for the reception of foreign
ambassadors； when the King； which of late had not been often；
consented to give them a personal audience； the same room in which；
many years before； envoys had appeared from England to make
arrangements for the marriage of their Queen； then one of the
Catholic sovereigns of Europe； with the Emperor's eldest son。 The
hangings were of gilt Cordovan leather； and a heavy gilt chandelier
with branches for three hundred wax lights hung down from the black
and white ceiling。 Underneath a great canopy of gold cloth； on
which the lions and towers of Castile were broidered in seed
pearls； stood the throne itself； covered with a rich pall of black
velvet studded with silver tulips and elaborately fringed with
silver and pearls。 On the second step of the throne was placed the
kneeling…stool of the Infanta； with its cushion of cloth of silver
tissue； and below that again； and beyond the limit of the canopy；
stood the chair for the Papal Nuncio； who alone had the right to be
seated in the King's presence on the occasion of any public
ceremonial； and whose Cardinal's hat； with its tangled scarlet
tassels； lay on a purple TABOURET in front。 On the wall； facing
the throne； hung a life…sized portrait of Charles V。 in hunting
dress； with a great mastiff by his side； and a picture of Philip
II。 receiving the homage of the Netherlands occupied the centre of
the other wall。 Between the windows stood a black ebony cabinet；
inlaid with plates of ivory； on which the figures from Holbein's
Dance of Death had been graved … by the hand； some said； of that
famous master himself。
But the little Dwarf cared nothing for all this magnificence。 He
would not have given his rose for all the pearls on the canopy； nor
one white petal of his rose for the throne itself。 What he wanted
was to see the Infanta before she went down to the pavilion； and to
ask her to come away with him when he had finished his dance。
Here； in the Palace； the air was close and heavy； but in the forest
the wind blew free； and the sunlight with wandering hands of gold
moved the tremulous leaves aside。 There were flowers； too； in the
forest； not so splendid； perhaps； as the flowers in the garden； but
more sweetly scented for all that； hyacinths in early spring that
flooded with waving purple the cool glens； and grassy knolls；
yellow primroses that nestled in little clumps round the gnarled
roots of the oak…trees； bright celandine； and blue speedwell； and
irises lilac and gold。 There were grey catkins on the hazels； and
the foxgloves drooped with the weight of their dappled bee…haunted
cells。 The chestnut had its spires of white stars； and the
hawthorn its pallid moons of beauty。 Yes： surely she would come
if he could only find her！ She would come with him to the fair
forest； and all day long he would dance for her delight。 A smile
lit up his eyes at the thought； and he passed into the next room。
Of all the rooms this was the brightest and the most beautiful。
The walls were covered with a pink…flowered Lucca damask； patterned
with birds and dotted with dainty blossoms of silver； the furniture
was of massive silver； festooned with florid wreaths； and swinging
Cupids； in front of the two large fire…places stood great screens
broidered with parrots and peacocks； and the floor； which was of
sea…green onyx； seemed to stretch far away into the distance。 Nor
was he alone。 Standing under the shadow of the doorway； at the
extreme end of the room； he saw a little figure watching him。 His
heart trembled； a cry of joy broke from his lips； and he moved out
into the sunlight。 As he did so； the figure moved out also； and he
saw it plainly。
The Infanta！ It was a monster； the most grotesque monster he had
ever beheld。 Not properly shaped； as all other people were； but
hunchbacked； and crooked…limbed； with huge lolling head and mane of
black hair。 The little Dwarf frowned； and the monster frowned
also。 He laughed； and it laughed with him； and held its hands to
its sides； just as he himself was doing。 He made it a mocking bow；
and it returned him a low reverence。 He went towards it； and it
came to meet him； copying each step that he made； and stopping when
he stopped himself。 He shouted with amusement； and ran forward；
and reached out his hand； and the hand of the monster touched his；
and it was as cold as ice。 He grew afraid； and moved his hand
across； and the monster's hand followed it quickly。 He tried to
press on； but something smooth and hard stopped him。 The face of
the monster was now close to his own； and seemed full of terror。
He brushed his hair off his eyes。 It imitated him。 He struck at
it； and it returned blow for blow。 He loathed it； and it made
hideous faces at him。 He drew back； and it retreated。
What is it？ He thought for a moment； and looked round at the rest
of the room。 It was strange； but everything seemed to have its
double in this invisible wall of clear water。 Yes； picture for
picture was repeated； and couch for couch。 The sleeping Faun that
lay in the alcove by the doorway had its twin brother that
slumbered； and the silver Venus that stood in the sunlight held out
her arms to a Venus as lovely as herself。
Was it Echo？ He had called to her once in the valley； and she had
answered him word for word。 Could she mock the eye； as she mocked
the voice？ Could she make a mimic world just like the real world？
Could the shadows of things have colour and life and movement？
Could it be that … ？
He started； and taking from his breast the beautiful white rose； he
turned round； and kissed it。 The monster had a rose of its own；
petal for petal the same！ It kissed it with like kisses； and
pressed it to its heart with horrible gestures。
When the truth dawned upon him； he gave a wild cry of despair； and
fell sobbing to the ground。 So it was he who was misshapen and
hunchbacked； foul to look at and grotesque。 He himself was the
monster； and it was at him that all the children had been laughing；
and the little Princess who he had thought loved him … she too had
been merely mocking at his ugliness； and making merry over his
twisted limbs。 Why had they not left him in the forest； where
there was no mirror to tell him how loathsome he was？ Why had his
father not killed him； rather than sell him to his shame？ The hot
tears poured down his cheeks； and he tore the white rose to pieces。
The sprawling monster did the same； and scattered the faint petals
in the air。 It grovelled on the ground； and； when he looked at it；
it watched him with a face drawn with pain。 He crept away； lest he
should see it； and covered his eyes with his hands。 He crawled；
like some wounded thing； into the shadow； and lay there moaning。
And at that moment the Infanta herself came in with her companions
through the open window； and when they saw the ugly little dwarf
lying on the ground and beating the floor with his clenched hands；
in the most fantastic and exaggerated manner； they went off into
shouts of happy laughter； and stood all round him and watched him。
'His dancing was funny；' said the Infan