Upon this, Chéri flew into a passion, and ordered his officers to carry Zélie to the Palace, but she was not used unkindly there, for the Prince loved her.
However, after a while, urged by his foster-brother, a bad man who encouraged Chéri in his wickedness, the young man rushed in a rage to the room in which Zélie was confined, determined that, if she still refused to marry him, the very next day she should be sold as a slave.
Great was his surprise, on entering the apartment, to find the captive had disappeared, for he carried the key of the door in his pocket.
Painted by Jennie Harbour
Amongst those at the Royal Court was a Councillor named Suliman, a man of a noble mind, who had often dared to tell the Prince of his faults, and had at first been thanked for this, but later on Chéri grew angry that anyone should presume to blame him while all others at the Court were full of flattery and praise, but in his heart of hearts the Prince respected this good man, and this the wicked flatterers knew full well, and therefore feared lest he should come into the Prince's favour.
So now they falsely said, that it was Suliman who had helped Zélie to escape, and beyond himself with fury, Chéri commanded his foster-brother to send soldiers to bring Suliman to him in chains, like a criminal.
After giving these orders Chéri retired to his chamber, but scarcely had he entered, when the earth trembled, there came a great clap of thunder, and the Fairy Candide appeared before him.
"I promised your father," said she in a stern voice, "to give you good advice, and to punish you if you refused to follow it. You have despised my counsels and your crimes have converted you into a monster, the horror of heaven and earth. Now it is time to fulfill my promise of punishment. I condemn you to take the resemblance of the beasts you are like in disposition—A lion, because of your fury—a wolf, on account of your greediness—a serpent, for destroying him who has been your second father—a bull, by reason of your brutality."
