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to the household of the Duchess； she said：
‘How long have you been one of the King's pages？'
‘I am not in the service of the King； madam；' answered he； ‘but
in yours。'
‘In mine？' said the Princess with great surprise。 ‘Then how
is it that I have never seen you before？'
‘Ah； Princess！' said he； ‘I have never before dared to present
myself to you； but now the King's marriage threatens you with so
many dangers that I have resolved to tell you at once how much I
love you already； and I trust that in time I may win your regard。 I
am Prince Percinet； of whose riches you may have heard； and whose
fairy gift will； I hope； be of use to you in all your difficulties； if you
will permit me to accompany you under this disguise。'
‘Ah； Percinet！' cried the Princess； ‘is it really you？ I have
so often heard of you and wished to see you。 If you will indeed be
my friend； I shall not be afraid of that wicked old Duchess any
more。'
So they went back to the palace together； and there Graciosa
found a beautiful horse which Percinet had brought for her to ride。
As it was very spirited he led it by the bridle； and this arrangement
enabled him to turn and look at the Princess often； which he did not
fail to do。 Indeed； she was so pretty that it was a real pleasure to
look at her。 When the horse which the Duchess was to ride appeared
beside Graciosa's； it looked no better than an old cart horse； and as
to their trappings； there was simply no comparison between them；
as the Princess's saddle and bridle were one glittering mass of
diamonds。 The King had so many other things to think of that
he did not notice this； but all his courtiers were entirely taken up
with admiring the Princess and her charming Page in green； who
was more handsome and distinguished…looking than all the rest of
the court put together。
When they met the Duchess Grumbly she was seated in an
open carriage trying in vain to look dignified。 The King and the
Princess saluted her； and her horse was brought forward for her to
mount。 But when she saw Graciosa's she cried angrily：
‘If that child is to have a better horse than mine； I will go back
to my own castle this very minute。 What is the good of being a
Queen if one is to be slighted like this？'
Upon this the King commanded Graciosa to dismount and to beg
the Duchess to honour her by mounting her horse。 The Princess
obeyed in silence； and the Duchess； without looking at her or thanking
her； scrambled up upon the beautiful horse； where she sat looking
like a bundle of clothes； and eight officers had to hold her up for fear
she should fall off。
Even then she was not satisfied； and was still grumbling and
muttering； so they asked her what was the matter。
‘I wish that Page in green to come and lead the horse； as he did
when Graciosa rode it；' said she very sharply。
And the King ordered the Page to come and lead the Queen's
horse。 Percinet and the Princess looked at one another； but said
never a word； and then he did as the King commanded； and the
procession started in great pomp。 The Duchess was greatly elated；
and as she sat there in state would not have wished to change places
even with Graciosa。 But at the moment when it was least expected
the beautiful horse began to plunge and rear and kick； and
finally to run away at such a pace that it was impossible to stop
him。
At first the Duchess clung to the saddle； but she was very soon
thrown off and fell in a heap among the stones and thorns； and there
they found her； shaken to a jelly； and collected what was left of her
as if she had been a broken glass。 Her bonnet was here and her
shoes there； her face was scratched； and her fine clothes were covered
with mud。 Never was a bride seen in such a dismal plight。 They
carried her back to the palace and put her to bed； but as soon as
she recovered enough to be able to speak； she began to scold and
rage； and declared that the whole affair was Graciosa's fault； that
she had contrived it on purpose to try and get rid of her； and that
if the King would not have her punished； she would go back to her
castle and enjoy her riches by herself。
At this the King was terribly frightened； for he did not at all
want to lose all those barrels of gold and jewels。 So he hastened
to appease the Duchess； and told her she might punish Graciosa in
any way she pleased。
Thereupon she sent for Graciosa； who turned pale and trembled
at the summons； for she guessed that it promised nothing agreeable
for her。 She looked all about for Percinet； but he was nowhere to
be seen； so she had no choice but to go to the Duchess Grumbly's
room。 She had hardly got inside the door when she was seized by
four waiting women； who looked so tall and strong and cruel that
the Princess shuddered at the sight of them； and still more when she
saw them arming themselves with great bundles of rods； and heard
the Duchess call out to them from her bed to beat the Princess
without mercy。 Poor Graciosa wished miserably that Percinet
could only know what was happening and come to rescue her。 But
no sooner did they begin to beat her than she found； to her great
relief； that the rods had changed to bundles of peacock's feathers；
and though the Duchess's women went on till they were so tired
that they could no longer raise their arms from their sides； yet she
was not hurt in the least。 However； the Duchess thought she must
be black and blue after such a beating； so Graciosa； when she was
released； pretended to feel very bad； and went away into her own
room； where she told her nurse all that had happened； and then the
nurse left her； and when the Princess turned round there stood
Percinet beside her。 She thanked him gratefully for helping her so
cleverly； and they laughed and were very merry over the way they
had taken in the Duchess and her waiting…maids； but Percinet
advised her still to pretend to be ill for a few days； and after
promising to come to her aid whenever she needed him； he disappeared
as suddenly as he had come。
The Duchess was so delighted at the idea that Graciosa was
really ill； that she herself recovered twice as fast as she would have
done otherwise； and the wedding was held with great magnificence。
Now as the King knew that； above all other things； the Queen loved
to be told that she was beautiful； he ordered that her portrait should
be painted； and that a tournament should be held； at which all the
bravest knights of his court should maintain against all comers that
Grumbly was the most beautiful princess in the world。
Numbers of knights came from far and wide to accept the
challenge； and the hideous Queen sat in great state in a balcony
hung with cloth of gold to watch the contests； and Graciosa had to
stand up behind her； where her loveliness was so conspicuous that
the combatants could not keep their eyes off her。 But the Queen
was so vain that she thought all their admiring glances w