I believe that for his escape he took advantage of a flight of migrating wild birds. On the morning of his departure he set his planet in good order. He carefully swept out his active volcanoes. He had two active volcanoes — which were very useful for heating up breakfast in the mornings. He also had an extinct volcano. But, as he used to say: 'One never knows!' So he swept out the extinct volcano, too. If they are well swept, volcanoes burn slowly and steadily, without erupting. Volcanic eruptions are like chimney fires. Here on Earth we are, of course, far too small to sweep out our volcanoes. Which is why they cause us endless trouble.

He carefully swept out his active volcanoes.

With a feeling of sadness, the little prince then uprooted the last little shoots of baobab. He was thinking he might never return here. And on this last morning the familiar tasks all seemed very precious to him. So that when he watered his flower for the last time, and prepared to place her under her glass dome, he found that he was on the verge of tears.

'Goodbye,' he said to the flower.

But she did not reply.

'Goodbye,' he repeated.

The flower coughed. But this was not on account of her cold.

'I have been an idiot,' she said to him at last. 'I ask your forgiveness. Try to be happy.'

He was taken aback by this absence of reproaches. He stood there all disconcerted, the glass dome suspended in mid-air. He could not understand this sweet composure of hers.

'Yes, yes, of course I love you.' the flower said to him at last. 'You had no idea - which is my fault. It is of no consequence. But you have been as foolish as I. Try to be happy. And leave that glass alone, I don't want it any more.'

'But what about the wind?'

'My cold is not as bad as all that ... The cool night air will do me good. I am a flower.'

'But what about insects?'

'I'll simply have to put up with two or three caterpillars if I want to meet some butterflies. I have heard that they are very beautiful. Otherwise, who will visit me? You will be far away. As for wild animals, I am not afraid of them. I have my claws.'

And she innocently showed her four thorns. Then she added:

'Don't hang about like that, it's irritating. You've decided to go. Now go!'

For she did not want him to see her tears. She was such a haughty flower ...