Chapter III

It took me a long time to understand where he came from. The little prince, who asked me many questions, never seemed to hear mine. These are words spoken by chance that, little by little, have revealed all to me. So when he saw my plane for the first time (I will not draw my plane, it is a drawing too complicated for me) he asked me:

"What is that thing?"

- It's not a thing. It flies. It's a plane. This is my plane. "

And I was proud to tell him I was flying. Then he exclaimed:

"How! You have fallen from heaven!

- Yes, I said modestly.

"Ah! Now that's funny… "

And the little prince had a very pretty burst of laughter, which irritated me very much. I wish to take my misfortunes seriously. Then he added:

"Then you too come from heaven!" What planet are you from?

I caught a glimpse in the mystery of his presence, and I suddenly questioned:

"So you're from another planet?"

But he did not answer me. He nodded softly as he looked at my plane:

"It's true that you can not come very far from it."

And he sank into a reverie that lasted for a long time. Then, taking my sheep out of his pocket, he plunged into the contemplation of his treasure.

You can imagine how intrigued I was by this half-confidence about "the other planets." I therefore endeavored to learn more:

"Where do you come from, my little fellow?" Where is "at home"? Where do you want to take my sheep?

He replied after a meditative silence:

"What is good, with the box you gave me, is that, at night, it will serve him as a house."

- Of course. And if you are kind, I will also give you a rope to tie it up during the day. And a picket. "

The proposal seemed to shock the little prince:

"Attach it?" What a funny idea !

"But if you do not tie him, he'll go anywhere, and he'll get lost."

And my friend burst into laughter again:

- But where do you want him to go !

- Anywhere. Right in front of him…

Then the little prince gravely remarked,

- It does not matter, it's so small, at home!

And, with a little melancholy, perhaps, he added:

- Straight ahead you can not go far ...