nkey and his strange
ways. The mother said, 'My dear child, I can no longer hide my
feelings from you. I cannot get the thought out of my mind that the
green monkey is no other than our beloved Prince Alphege, transformed
in this strange fashion. I know the idea sounds wild, but I cannot get
it out of my heart, and it leaves me no peace.'

As she spoke she glanced up, and there sat the little monkey, whose
tears and gestures seemed to confirm her words.

The following night the elder lady dreamt that she saw the Good Queen,
who said, 'Do not weep any longer but follow my directions. Go into
your garden and lift up the little marble slab at the foot of the
great myrtle tree. 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.

[Illustration: The Green Monkey in the Bath.]

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. Yo