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Perhaps the sheep has eaten the flower...

At one time I say to myself: "Surely not! The little prince shuts his flower under her glass globe every night

and he watches over his sheep very carefully..." Then I am happy. And there is sweetness in the laughter of all the stars.

But at another time I say to myself: "At some moment or other one is absent-minded

and that is enough! On some one evening he forgot the glass globe

or the sheep got out

without making any noise

in the night..." And then the little bells are changed to tears...

Here

then

is a great mystery. For you who also love the little prince

and for me

nothing in the universe can be the same if somewhere

we do not know where

a sheep that we never saw has-- yes or no?-- eaten a rose...

Look up at the sky. Ask yourselves: is it yes or no? Has the sheep eaten the flower? And you will see how everything changes...

And no grown-up will ever understand that this is a matter of so much importance!

This is

to me

the loveliest and saddest landscape in the world. It is the same as that on the preceding page

but I have drawn it again to impress it on your memory. It is here that the little prince appeared on Earth

and disappeared.

Look at it carefully so that you will be sure to recognise it in case you travel some day to the African desert. And

if you should come upon this spot

please do not hurry on. Wait for a time

exactly under the star. Then

if a little man appears who laughs

who has golden hair and who refuses to answer questions

you will know who he is. If this should happen

please comfort me. Send me word that he has come back.