ng, and, drawing forty
gold pieces from his pocket, he held out twenty to each, saying, 'Take
these and turn them to good account. I am going away to seek my own
fortune.' Then he embraced them, and struck down another road.

He wandered on for many days, till at length he came to the town where
the king had his court. The first thing Ciccu did was to order himself
some fine clothes, and then buy a grand house, just opposite the palace.

Next he locked his door, and ordered a shower of gold to cover the
staircase, and when this was done, the door was flung wide open, and
everyone came and peeped at the shining golden stairs. Lastly the rumour
of these wonders reached the ears of the king, who left his palace to
behold these splendours with his own eyes. And Ciccu received him with
all respect, and showed him over the house.

When the king went home he told such stories of what he had seen that
his wife and daughter declared that they must go and see them too. So
the king sent to ask Ciccu's leave, and Ciccu answered that if the queen
and the princess would be pleased to do him such great honour he would
show them anything they wished. Now the princess was as beautiful as the
sun, and when Ciccu looked upon her his heart went out to her, and he
longed to have her to wife. The princess saw what was passing in his
mind, and how she could make use of it to satisfy her curiosity as to
the golden stairs; so she praised him and flattered him, and put cunning
questions, till at length Ciccu's head was quite turned, and he told her
the whole story of the fairies and their gifts. Then she begged him to
lend her the purse for a few days, so that she could have one made like
it, and so great was the love he had for her that he gave it to her at
once.

The princess returned to the palace, taking with her the purse, which
she had not the smallest intention of ever restoring to Ciccu. Very
soon Ciccu had spent all the money he had by him, and could get no more
without the help of his purse. Of course, he went at once to the king's
daughter, and asked her if she had done with it, but she put him off
with some excuse, and told him to come back next day. The next day it
was the same thing, and the next, till a great rage filled Ciccu's heart
instead of the love that had been there. And when night came he took
in his hand a thick stick, wrapped himself in the coverlet, and wished
himself in the chamber of the princess. The princess was