chattering, she cried:--

'That is an admirable pie, little kitchen-maid. Pray what will
you take for it?'

'The usual price,' she answered. 'To sleep once more in the
Chamber of Echoes.'

'By all means, only give me the pie,' said the greedy Turritella.
And when night was come, Queen Fiordelisa waited until she
thought everybody in the palace would be asleep, and then began
to lament as before.

'Ah, Charming!' she said, 'what have I ever done that you should
forsake me and marry Turritella? If you could only know all I
have suffered, and what a weary way I have come to seek you.'

Now the page had faithfully kept his word, and given King
Charming a glass of water instead of his usual sleeping draught,
so there he lay wide awake, and heard every word Fiordelisa said,
and even recognised her voice, though he could not tell where it
came from.

'Ah, Princess!' he said, 'how could you betray me to our cruel
enemies when I loved you so dearly?'

Fiordelisa heard him, and answered quickly:

'Find out the little kitchen-maid, and she will explain
everything.'