The King and the Prince were delighted to see that the King of the Peacocks was as handsome as possible . He had curly golden hair and was very pale , and he wore a crown of peacocks ' feathers . When he saw Rosette 's brothers he knew at once that they were strangers , and stopping his carriage he sent for them to speak to him . When they had greeted him they said : ` Sire , we have come from very far away to show you a beautiful portrait . ' So saying they drew from their travelling bag the picture of Rosette . The King looked at it in silence a long time , but at last he said : ' I could not have believed that there was such a beautiful Princess in the world ! ' ` Indeed , she is really a hundred times as pretty as that , ' said her brothers . ' I think you must be making fun of me , ' replied the King of the Peacocks . ` Sire , ' said the Prince , ` my brother is a King , like yourself . He is called `` the King , '' I am called `` the Prince , '' and that is the portrait of our sister , the Princess Rosette . We have come to ask if you would like to marry her . She is as good as she is beautiful , and we will give her a bushel of gold pieces for her dowry . ' ` Oh ! with all my heart , ' replied the King , ` and I will make her very happy . She shall have whatever she likes , and I shall love her dearly ; only I warn you that if she is not as pretty as you have told me , I will have your heads cut off . ' ` Oh ! certainly , we quite agree to that , ' said the brothers in one breath . ` Very well . Off with you into prison , and stay there until the Princess arrives , ' said the King of the Peacocks . And the Princes were so sure that Rosette was far prettier than her portrait that they went without a murmur .
They were very kindly treated , and XXXXX they might not feel dull the King came often to see them .
as at for from like of than that to without