was Fiordelisa herself.

'My Princess! have I found you at last?' said he, alighting close
to her.

'Who is speaking to me?' cried the Princess in great surprise.

'Only a moment since you mentioned my name, and now you do not
know me, Fiordelisa,' said he sadly. 'But no wonder, since I am
nothing but a Blue Bird, and must remain one for seven years.'

'What! Little Blue Bird, are you really the powerful King
Charming?' said the Princess, caressing him.

'It is too true,' he answered. 'For being faithful to you I am
thus punished. But believe me, if it were for twice as long I
would bear it joyfully rather than give you up.'

'Oh! what are you telling me?' cried the Princess. 'Has not your
bride, Turritella, just visited me, wearing the royal mantle and
the diamond crown you gave her? I cannot be mistaken, for I saw
your ring upon her thumb.'

Then the Blue Bird was furiously angry, and told the Princess all
that had happened, how he had been deceived into carrying off
Turritella, and how, for refusing to marry her, the Fairy Mazilla
had condemned him to be a Blue Bird for seven years.

The Princess was very happy when she heard how faithful her lover
was, and would never have tired of hearing his loving speeches