e away
fighting in distant countries, she decided what she would do, and
adopted in secret the baby of a poor quarryman, sending a messenger to
tell you that you had a son. No one suspected the truth except a priest
to whom the queen confessed the truth, and in a few weeks she fell ill
and died, leaving the baby to be brought up as became a prince. And now,
if your highness will permit me, I will speak of myself.'

'What you have already told me,' answered the king, 'is so strange that
I cannot imagine what more there is to tell, but go on with your story.'

'One day, shortly after the death of the queen,' continued the young
man, 'your highness was hunting, and outstripped all your attendants
while chasing the deer. You were in a part of the country which you did
not know, so seeing an orchard all pink and white with apple-blossoms,
and a girl tossing a ball in one corner, you went up to her to ask your
way. But when she turned to answer you, you were so struck with her
beauty that all else fled from your mind. Again and again you rode back
to see her, and at length persuaded her to marry you. She only thought
you a poor knight, and agreed that, as you wished it, the marriage
should be kept secret.

'After the ceremony you gave her three rings and a charm with a cross on
it, and then put her in a cottage in the forest, thinking to hide the
matter securely.

'For some months you visited the cottage every week; but a rebellion
broke out in a distant part of the kingdom, and called for your
presence. When next you rode up to the cottage, it was empty, and none
could inform you whither your bride had gone. That, sire, I can now tell
you,' and the young man paused and looked at the king, who coloured
deeply. 'She went back to her father the old duke, once your
chamberlain, and the cross on her breast revealed at once who you were.
Fierce was his anger when he heard his daughter's tale, and he vowed
that he would hide her safely from you, till the day came when you would
claim her publicly as your queen.

'By and bye I was born, and was brought up by my grandfather in one of
his great houses. Here are the rings you gave to my mother, and here is
the cross, and these will prove if I am your son or not.'

As he spoke the young man laid the jewels at the feet of the king, and
the nobles and the judges pressed round to examine them. The king alone
did not move from his seat, for he had forgotten the hall of justice and
al