"Countess," said Bizarre, "an idea has just struck me, which is so strange that I hardly dare tell it to you; yet I have a violent wish to carry it out. I can do nothing with my son; reason has no power with the stubborn child. Who knows whether folly would not be more successful? If I thought so, I would make Pazza Charming's teacher. The intractable boy, who rejects all masters, might be defenseless before a child. The only objection is that no one will be of my opinion; I shall have everybody against me." "Bah!" said the countess; "everybody is so stupid that it is a proof that you are right that you think differently." III THE FIRST LESSON In this manner Pazza was intrusted with the instruction of the young prince. There was no official appointment; it was not announced in the court gazette that the king, with his usual wisdom, had found an unparalleled genius at the first attempt, to whom he had confided the heart and mind of his child; but the very next morning Charming was sent to the countess's house, and was permitted to play with Pazza. The two children, left alone together, gazed at each other in silence. Pazza, being the bolder, was the first to speak. "What is your name?" asked she. "Those who know me call me Your Highness," answered Charming, in a piqued tone; "those who do not know me call me simply My Lord, and everybody says Sir to me; etiquette requires it." "What is etiquette?" asked Pazza. "I don't know," replied Charming. "When I want to jump, shout, and roll on the ground, I am told that it is contrary to etiquette; then I keep still, and yawn for lack of amusement--that is etiquette." "Since we are here to amuse ourselves," resumed Pazza, "there is no etiquette needed; speak to me as if I were your sister, and I will speak to you as if you were my brother. I will not call you My Lord." "But you don't know me," said Charming. "What does that matter?" returned Pazza; "I will love you, that is better. They say that you dance beautifully; teach me to dance, will you?" The ice was broken; Charming took the young girl by the waist, and in less than half an hour taught her the last new polka. "How well you dance!" said he. "You have caught the step directly." "It is because you are a good teacher," she replied. "Now it is my turn to teach you something." She took a beautiful picture-book, and showed him fine buildings, fishes, statesmen, parrots, scholars, curious animals, and flowers, all of which greatly amused Charming. "See," said Pazza, "here is the explanation of all the pictures; read it." "I don't know how to read," replied Charming. "I will teach you; I will be your little tutor." "No," replied the stubborn prince, "I do not wish to read. My masters tire me." "Very well; but I am not a master. See, here is an A, a beautiful great A; say A." "No," returned Charming, frowning, "I will never say A." "Not to please me?" "No, never. Enough of this; I do not like people to differ from me."