lly most kind and polite, he pulled off his cap to
beg her pardon, when, behold, the beggar woman gave one dreadful scream,
and fainted! A crowd was collecting, and the prince, forgetting that he
had thrown down all his money in the tavern, pulled out his purse. Then
he remembered what he had done, and expected to find it empty; but, lo,
there were three pieces of gold in it! Overcome with surprise, he thrust
the money into the woman's hand, and put on his cap again. In a moment
the crowd, which had been staring at him, rushed away in every direction,
with cries of terror, declaring that there was a magician in the town,
and a fellow who could appear and disappear at pleasure!

{The crowd running: p42.jpg}

By this time, you or I, or anyone who was not so extremely clever as
Prince Prigio, would have understood what was the matter. He had put on,
without knowing it, not only the seven-league boots, but the cap of
darkness, and had taken Fortunatus's purse, which could never be empty,
however often you took all the money out. All those and many other
delightful wares the fairies had given him at his christening, and the
prince had found them in the dark garret. But the prince was so
extremely wise, and learned, and scientific, that he did not believe in
fairies, nor in fairy gifts.

"It is indigestion," he said to himself: "those sausages were not of the
best; and that Burgundy was extremely strong. Things are not as they
appear."

Here, as he was arguing with himself, he was nearly run over by a
splendid carriage and six, the driver of which never took the slightest
notice of him. Annoyed at this, the prince leaped up behind, threw down
the two footmen, who made no resistance, and so was carried to the door
of a magnificent palace. He was determined to challenge the gentleman
who was in the carriage; but, noticing that he had a very beautiful young
lady with him, whom he had never seen before, he followed them into the
house, not wishing to alarm the girl, and meaning to speak to the
gentleman when he found him alone.

A great ball was going on; but, as usual, nobody took any notice of the
prince. He walked among the guests, being careful not to jostle them,
and listening to their conversation.

It was all about himself! Everyone had heard of his disgrace, and almost
everyone cried "Serve him right!" They said that the airs he gave
himself were quite unendurable--that nothing was more rude than to be