such a risk. The captain, too, urged him not to attempt it.
'You will only lead us all to certain death,' he said. 'Pray anchor
nearer land, and I will then seek a kind fairy I know, who has always
been most obliging to me, and who will, I am sure, try to help your
Highness.'

The prince rather unwillingly listened to reason. He landed at the
nearest point, and sent off the captain in all haste to beg the fairy's
advice and help. Meantime he had a tent pitched on the shore, and spent
all his time gazing at the tower and looking for the princess through
his spy-glass.

After a few days the captain came back, bringing the fairy with him. The
prince was delighted to see her, and paid her great attention. 'I have
heard about this matter,' she said; 'and, to lose no time, I am going to
send off a trusty pigeon to test the enchantment. If there is any weak
spot he is sure to find it out and get in. I shall bid him bring a
flower back as a sign of success, and if he does so I quite hope to get
you in too.'

'But,' asked the prince, 'could I not send a line by the pigeon to tell
the princess of my love?'

'Certainly,' replied the fairy, 'it would be a very good plan.'

So the prince wrote as follows:--

'Lovely Princess,--I adore you, and beg you to accept my heart,
and to believe there is nothing I will not do to end your
misfortunes.--Blondel.'

This note was tied round the pigeon's neck, and he flew off with it at
once. He flew fast till he got near the tower, when a fierce wind blew
so hard against him that he could not get on. But he was not to be
beaten, but flew carefully round the top of the tower till he came to
one spot which, by some mistake, had not been enchanted like the rest.
He quickly slipped into the arbour and waited for the princess.

Before long Graziella appeared alone, and the pigeon at once fluttered
to meet her, and seemed so tame that she stopped to caress the pretty
creature. As she did so she saw it had a pink ribbon round its neck, and
tied to the ribbon was a letter. She read it over several times and then
wrote this answer:--

'You say you love me; but I cannot promise to love you without seeing
you. Send me your portrait by this faithful messenger. If I return it to
you, you must give up hope; but if I keep it you will know that to help
me will be to help yourself.--Graziella.'

Before flying back the pigeon remembered about the flower, so, seeing
one in the princess's