that you
must confess, and I desire that you shall ask his forgiveness. He will
be very generous if he grants it, and it will be more than you deserve.
He is in my ante-room, where you shall see him at once. I myself will
retire into another apartment, so as to leave you alone with him.'

Bramintho entered, as he was told, into the ante-room. Then Rosimond
changed the ring, and passed into the room by another door.

Bramintho was filled with shame as soon as he saw his brother's face. He
implored his pardon, and promised to atone for all his faults. Rosimond
embraced him with tears, and at once forgave him, adding, 'I am in great
favour with the King. It rests with me to have your head cut off, or to
condemn you to pass the remainder of your life in prison; but I desire
to be as good to you as you have been wicked to me.' Bramintho, confused
and ashamed, listened to his words without daring to lift his eyes or to
remind Rosimond that he was his brother. After this, Rosimond gave out
that he was going to make a secret voyage, to marry a Princess who lived
in a neighbouring kingdom; but in reality he only went to see his
mother, whom he told all that had happened at the Court, giving her at
the same time some money that she needed, for the King allowed him to
take exactly what he liked, though he was always careful not to abuse
this permission. Just then a furious war broke out between the King his
master and the Sovereign of the adjoining country, who was a bad man and
one that never kept his word. Rosimond went straight to the palace of
the wicked King, and by means of his ring was able to be present at all
the councils, and learnt all their schemes, so that he was able to
forestall them and bring them to naught. He took the command of the army
which was brought against the wicked King, and defeated him in a
glorious battle, so that peace was at once concluded on conditions that
were just to everyone.

Henceforth the King's one idea was to marry the young man to a Princess
who was the heiress to a neighbouring kingdom, and, besides that, was as
lovely as the day. But one morning, while Rosimond was hunting in the
forest where for the first time he had seen the Fairy, his benefactress
suddenly appeared before him. 'Take heed,' she said to him in severe
tones, 'that you do not marry anybody who believes you to be a Prince.
You must never deceive anyone. The real Prince, whom the whole nation
thinks you are, will have to