who it was, and was altogether so uneasy and dissatisfied that
the Queen saw it plainly. But she would not take any notice, and
talked of nothing but the entertainments she was planning. The
Prince answered at random, and presently asked if he was not to
have the pleasure of seeing the Princess Fiordelisa.

'Sire,' answered the Queen haughtily, 'her father has ordered
that she shall not leave her own apartments until my daughter is
married.'

'What can be the reason for keeping that lovely Princess a
prisoner?' cried the King in great indignation.

'That I do not know,' answered the Queen; 'and even if I did, I
might not feel bound to tell you.'

The King was terribly angry at being thwarted like this. He felt
certain that Turritella was to blame for it, so casting a furious
glance at her he abruptly took leave of the Queen, and returned
to his own apartments. There he said to a young squire whom he
had brought with him: 'I would give all I have in the world to
gain the good will of one of the Princess's waiting-women, and
obtain a moment's speech with Fiordelisa.'

'Nothing could be easier,' said the young squire; and he very
soon made friends with one of the ladies, who told him that in
the evening Fiordelisa would be at a little window which looked
into the garden, where he could come and talk to her. Only, she
said, he must take very great care not to be seen, as it would be
as much as her place was worth to be caught helping King Charming