You will find beneath it a crystal vase filled with a
bright green liquid. Take it with you and place the thing which is at
present most in your thoughts into a bath filled with roses and rub it
well with the green liquid.'

At these words the sleeper awoke, and lost no time in rising and
hurrying to the garden, where she found all as the Good Queen had
described. Then she hastened to rouse her daughter and together they
prepared the bath, for they would not let their women know what they
were about. Zayda gathered quantities of roses, and when all was ready
they put the monkey into a large jasper bath, where the mother rubbed
him all over with the green liquid.

Their suspense was not long, for suddenly the monkey skin dropped off,
and there stood Prince Alphege, the handsomest and most charming of
men. The joy of such a meeting was beyond words. After a time the ladies
begged the Prince to relate his adventures, and he told them of all his
sufferings in the desert when he was first transformed. His only comfort
had been in visits from the Good Queen, who had at length put him in the
way of meeting his brother.

Several days were spent in these interesting conversations, but at
length Zayda's mother began to think of the best means for placing the
Prince on the throne, which was his by right.

The Queen on her side was feeling very anxious. She had felt sure from
the first that her son's pet monkey was no other than Prince Alphege,
and she longed to put an end to him. Her suspicions were confirmed by
the Fairy of the Mountain, and she hastened in tears to the King, her
son.

'I am informed,' she cried, 'that some ill-disposed people have raised
up an impostor in the hopes of dethroning you. You must at once have him
put to death.'

The King, who was very brave, assured the Queen that he would soon
punish the conspirators. He made careful inquiries into the matter, and
thought it hardly probable that a quiet widow and a young girl would
think of attempting anything of the nature of a revolution.

He determined to go and see them, and to find out the truth for himself;
so one night, without saying anything to the Queen or his ministers, he
set out for the palace where the two ladies lived, attended only by a
small band of followers.

The two ladies were at the moment deep in conversation with Prince
Alphege, and hearing a knocking so late at night begged him to keep out
of sight for a time. What was their surpr