happy voice as I travel along I shall think of you and thank you.'

'Come along then,' said the king, 'choose whom you will.' And he took
the lute player through the prison himself.

The queen walked about amongst the prisoners, and at length she picked
out her husband and took him with her on her journey. They were long on
their way, but he never found out who she was, and she led him nearer
and nearer to his own country.

When they reached the frontier the prisoner said:

'Let me go now, kind lad; I am no common prisoner, but the king of this
country. Let me go free and ask what you will as your reward.'

'Do not speak of reward,' answered the lute player. 'Go in peace.'

'Then come with me, dear boy, and be my guest.'

'When the proper time comes I shall be at your palace,' was the reply,
and so they parted.

The queen took a short way home, got there before the king and changed
her dress.

An hour later all the people in the palace were running to and fro and
crying out: 'Our king has come back! Our king has returned to us.'

The king greeted every one very kindly, but he would not so much as look
at the queen.

Then he called all his council and ministers together and said to them:

'See what sort of a wife I have. Here she is falling on my neck, but
when I was pining in prison and sent her word of it she did nothing to
help me.'

And his council answered with one voice, 'Sire, when news was brought
from you the queen disappeared and no one knew where she went. She only
returned to-day.'

Then the king was very angry and cried, 'Judge my faithless wife!

Never would you have seen your king again, if a young lute player had
not delivered him. I shall remember him with love and gratitude as long
as I live.'

Whilst the king was sitting with his council, the queen found time to
disguise herself. She took her lute, and slipping into the court in
front of the palace she sang, clear and sweet:

'I sing the captive's longing
Within his prison wall,
Of hearts that sigh when none are nigh
To answer to their call.

'My song begs for your pity,
And gifts from out your store,
And as I play my gentle lay
I linger near your door.

'And if you hear my singing
Within your palace, sire,
Oh! give, I pray, this happy day,
To me my heart's desire.'

As soon as the king heard this song he ran out to meet the