back to hear what was decided;
but Graziella hardly paid any attention to her, and showed such dislike
to the idea of the proposed marriage that the fairy went off in a
regular huff.

Without knowing it, the princess had made another conquest. On board the
ship which had sailed so near was the handsomest prince in the world. He
had heard of the enchanted tower, and determined to get as near it as he
could. He had strong glasses on board, and whilst looking through them
he saw the princess quite clearly, and fell desperately in love with her
at once. He wanted to steer straight for the tower and to row off to it
in a small boat, but his entire crew fell at his feet and begged him not
to run 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 spyglass.

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