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was so vain that she thought all their admiring glances were for
herself； especially as； in spite of the badness of their cause； the King's
knights were so brave that they were the victors in every combat。
However； when nearly all the strangers had been defeated； a
young unknown knight presented himself。 He carried a portrait；
enclosed in a bow encrusted with diamonds； and he declared himself
willing to maintain against them all that the Queen was the
ugliest creature in the world； and that the Princess whose portrait
he carried was the most beautiful。
So one by one the knights came out against him； and one by
one he vanquished them all； and then he opened the box； and said
that； to console them； he would show them the portrait of his Queen
of Beauty； and when he did so everyone recognised the Princess
Graciosa。 The unknown knight then saluted her gracefully and
retired； without telling his name to anybody。 But Graciosa had no
difficulty in guessing that it was Percinet。
As to the Queen； she was so furiously angry that she could
hardly speak； but she soon recovered her voice； and overwhelmed
Graciosa with a torrent of reproaches。
‘What！' she said； ‘do you dare to dispute with me for the prize
of beauty； and expect me to endure this insult to my knights？ But
I will not bear it； proud Princess。 I will have my revenge。'
‘I assure you； Madam；' said the Princess； ‘that I had nothing to
do with it and am quite willing that you shall be declared Queen
of Beauty
‘Ah！ you are pleased to jest； popinjay！' said the Queen； ‘but
it will be my turn soon！'
The King was speedily told what had happened； and how the
Princess was in terror of the angry Queen； but he only said：
‘The Queen must do as she pleases。 Graciosa belongs to her！'
The wicked Queen waited impatiently until night fell； and then
she ordered her carriage to be brought。 Graciosa； much against
her will； was forced into it； and away they drove； and never stopped
until they reached a great forest； a hundred leagues from the
palace。 This forest was so gloomy； and so full of lions； tigers； bears
and wolves； that nobody dared pass through it even by daylight；
and here they set down the unhappy Princess in the middle of the
black night； and left her in spite of all her tears and entreaties。 The
Princess stood quite still at first from sheer bewilderment； but when
the last sound of the retreating carriages died away in the distance
she began to run aimlessly hither and thither； sometimes knocking
herself against a tree； sometimes tripping over a stone； fearing
every minute that she would be eaten up by the lions。 Presently
she was too tired to advance another step； so she threw herself
down upon the ground and cried miserably：
‘Oh； Percinet！ where are you？ Have you forgotten me altogether？'
She had hardly spoken when all the forest was lighted up with
a sudden glow。 Every tree seemed to be sending out a soft
radiance； which was clearer than moonlight and softer than
daylight； and at the end of a long avenue of trees opposite to her the
Princess saw a palace of clear crystal which blazed like the sun。
At that moment a slight sound behind her made her start round；
and there stood Percinet himself。
‘Did I frighten you； my Princess？' said he。 ‘I come to bid you
welcome to our fairy palace； in the name of the Queen； my mother；
who is prepared to love you as much as I do。' The Princess
joyfully mounted with him into a little sledge； drawn by two stags；
which bounded off and drew them swiftly to the wonderful palace；
where the Queen received her with the greatest kindness； and a
splendid banquet was served at once。 Graciosa was so happy to
have found Percinet； and to have escaped from the gloomy forest
and all its terrors； that she was very hungry and very merry； and
they were a gay party。 After supper they went into another lovely
room； where the crystal walls were covered with pictures； and the
Princess saw with great surprise that her own history was repre…
sented； even down to the moment when Percinet found her in the
forest。
‘Your painters must indeed be diligent；' she said； pointing out
the last picture to the Prince。
‘They are obliged to be； for I will not have anything forgotten
that happens to you；' he answered。
When the Princess grew sleepy； twenty…four charming maidens
put her to bed in the prettiest room she had ever seen； and then
sang to her so sweetly that Graciosa's dreams were all of mermaids；
and cool sea waves； and caverns； in which she wandered with
Percinet； but when she woke up again her first thought was that；
delightful as this fairy palace seemed to her； yet she could not stay
in it； but must go back to her father。 When she had been dressed
by the four…and…twenty maidens in a charming robe which the
Queen had sent for her； and in which she looked prettier than ever；
Prince Percinet came to see her； and was bitterly disappointed when
she told him what she had been thinking。 He begged her to
consider again how unhappy the wicked Queen would make her； and
how； if she would but marry him； all the fairy palace would be
hers； and his one thought would be to please her。 But； in spite of
everything he could say； the Princess was quite determined to go
back； though he at last persuaded her to stay eight days； which were
so full of pleasure and amusement that they passed like a few
hours。 On the last day； Graciosa； who had often felt anxious to
know what was going on in her father's palace； said to Percinet
that she was sure that he could find out for her； if he would； what
reason the Queen had given her father for her sudden disappearance。
Percinet at first offered to send his courier to find out； but
the Princess said：
‘Oh！ isn't there a quicker way of knowing than that？'
‘Very well；' said Percinet； ‘you shall see for yourself。'
So up they went together to the top of a very high tower； which；
like the rest of the castle； was built entirely of rock…crystal。
There the Prince held Graciosa's hand in his； and made her put
the tip of her little finger into her mouth； and look towards the town；
and immediately she saw the wicked Queen go to the King； and
heard her say to him； ‘That miserable Princess is dead； and no
great loss either。 I have ordered that she shall be buried at once。'
And then the Princess saw how she dressed up a log of wood
and had it buried； and how the old King cried； and all the people
murmured that the Queen had killed Graciosa with her cruelties；
and that she ought to have her head cut off。 When the Princess
saw that the King was so sorry for her pretended death that he
could neither eat nor drink； she cried：
‘Ah； Percinet！ take me back quickly if you love me。'
And so； though he did not want to at all； he was obliged to
promise that he would let her go。
‘You may not regret me； Princess；' he said sadly； ‘for I fear
that you do not love me well