magnificence. Now as the
King knew that, above all other things, the Queen loved to be told that
she was beautiful, he ordered that her portrait should be painted, and
that a tournament should be held, at which all the bravest knights of
his court should maintain against all comers that Grumbly was the most
beautiful princess in the world.

Numbers of knights came from far and wide to accept the challenge, and
the hideous Queen sat in great state in a balcony hung with cloth of
gold to watch the contests, and Graciosa had to stand up behind her,
where her loveliness was so conspicuous that the combatants could not
keep their eyes off her. But the Queen was so vain that she thought all
their admiring glances were for herself, especially as, in spite of the
badness of their cause, the King's knights were so brave that they were
the victors in every combat.

However, when nearly all the strangers had been defeated, a young
unknown knight presented himself. He carried a portrait, enclosed in a
bow encrusted with diamonds, and he declared himself willing to maintain
against them all that the Queen was the ugliest creature in the world,
and that the Princess whose portrait he carried was the most beautiful.

So one by one the knights came out against him, and one by one he
vanquished them all, and then he opened the box, and said that, to
console them, he would show them the portrait of his Queen of Beauty,
and when he did so everyone recognised the Princess Graciosa. The
unknown knight then saluted her gracefully and retired, without telling
his name to anybody. But Graciosa had no difficulty in guessing that it
was Percinet.

As to the Queen, she was so furiously angry that she could hardly
speak; but she soon recovered her voice, and overwhelmed Graciosa with a
torrent of reproaches.

'What!' she said, 'do you dare to dispute with me for the prize of
beauty, and expect me to endure this insult to my knights? But I will
not bear it, proud Princess. I will have my revenge.'

'I assure you, Madam,' said the Princess, 'that I had nothing to do with
it and am quite willing that you shall be declared Queen of Beauty

'Ah! you are pleased to jest, popinjay!' said the Queen, 'but it will be
my turn soon!'

The King was speedily told what had happened, and how the Princess was
in terror of the angry Queen, but he only said: 'The Queen must do as
she pleases. Graciosa belongs to her!'

The wicked Queen waited impatiently