that he would faint with the strength of it, and afterwards for
her sake run into great dangers; so you must guard him well."

And as Faithful John gave him his hand upon it, the old King became
still and silent, laid his head upon the pillow, and died.

When the old King was laid in the grave, Faithful John told the young
King what he had promised to his father on his death-bed, and said,

"And I will certainly hold to my promise and be faithful to you, as I
was faithful to him, even though it should cost me my life."

When the days of mourning were at an end, Faithful John said to the
Prince,

"It is now time that you should see your inheritance; I will show you
all the paternal castle."

Then he led him over all the place, upstairs and down-stairs, and showed
him all the treasures and the splendid chambers; one chamber only he did
not open, that in which the perilous picture hung. Now the picture was
so placed that when the door opened it was the first thing to be seen,
and was so wonderfully painted that it seemed to breathe and move, and
in the whole world was there nothing more lovely or more beautiful. The
young King noticed how Faithful John always passed by this one door, and
asked,

"Why do you not undo this door?"

"There is something inside that would terrify you," answered he. But the
King answered,

"I have seen the whole castle, and I will know what is in here also."
And he went forward and tried to open the door by force.

Then Faithful John called him back, and said, "I promised your father on
his death-bed that you should not see what is in that room; it might
bring great misfortune on you and me were I to break my promise."

But the young King answered, "I shall be undone if I do not go inside
that room; I shall have no peace day or night until I have seen it with
these eyes; and I will not move from this place until you have unlocked
it."

Then Faithful John saw there was no help for it, and he chose out the
key from the big bunch with a heavy heart and many sighs. When the door
was opened he walked in first, and thought that by standing in front of
the King he might hide the picture from him, but that was no good, the
King stood on tiptoe, and looked over his shoulder. And when he saw the
image of the lady that was so wonderfully beautiful, and so glittering
with gold and jewels, he fell on the ground powerless. Faithful John
helped him up, took him to his bed, and thought with sorrow,