finding nothing, they opened the
window; and when they saw the beautiful myrtle standing there, each of
them plucked a leaf from it; but the youngest took off the entire top,
to which the little bell was hung; and the moment it was touched the
bell tinkled and the fairy, thinking it was the Prince, immediately
came out.

As soon as the wicked women saw this lovely creature they fastened
their talons on her, crying, "You are she who turns to your own mill
the stream of our hopes! You it is who have stolen the favour of the
Prince! But you are come to an end of your tricks, my fine lady! You
are nimble enough in running off, but you are caught in your tricks
this time, and if you escape, you were never born."

So saying, they flew upon her, and instantly tore her in pieces, and
each of them took her part. But the youngest would not join in this
cruel act; and when she was invited by her sisters to do as they did,
she would take nothing but a lock of those golden hairs. So when they
had done they went quickly away by the passage through which they had
come.

Meanwhile the chamberlain came to make the bed and water the
flower-pot, according to his master's orders, and seeing this pretty
piece of work, he had like to have died of terror. Then, biting his
nails with vexation, he set to work, gathered up the remains of the
flesh and bones that were left, and scraping the blood from the floor,
he piled them all up in a heap in the pot; and having watered it, he
made the bed, locked the door, put the key under the door, and taking
to his heels ran away out of the town.

When the Prince came back from the chase, he pulled the silken string
and rung the little bell; but ring as he would it was all lost time; he
might sound the tocsin, and ring till he was tired, for the fairy gave
no heed. So he went straight to the chamber, and not having patience to
call the chamberlain and ask for the key, he gave the lock a kick,
burst open the door, went in, opened the window, and seeing the myrtle
stript of its leaves, he fell to making a most doleful lamentation,
crying, shouting, and bawling, "O wretched me! unhappy me! O miserable
me! Who has played me this trick? and who has thus trumped my card? O
ruined, banished, and undone prince! O my leafless myrtle! my lost
fairy! O my wretched life! my joys vanished into smoke! my pleasures
turned to vinegar! What will you do, unhappy man! Leap quickly over
this ditch! You have fallen from a