d she plunged into the woods. The youth was
very impatient to try the ring, and returned home immediately. He found
that the Fairy had spoken the truth, and that he could see and hear
everything, while he himself was unseen. It lay with him to revenge
himself, if he chose, on his brother, without the slightest danger to
himself, and he told no one but his mother of all the strange things
that had befallen him. He afterwards put the enchanted ring on his
little finger, and appeared as the King's son, followed by a hundred
fine horses, and a guard of officers all richly dressed.

His father was much surprised to see the King's son in his quiet little
house, and he felt rather embarrassed, not knowing what was the proper
way to behave on such a grand occasion. Then Rosimond asked him how many
sons he had.

'Two,' replied he.

'I wish to see them,' said Rosimond. 'Send for them at once. I desire to
take them both to Court, in order to make their fortunes.'

The father hesitated, then answered: 'Here is the eldest, whom I have
the honour to present to your Highness.'

'But where is the youngest? I wish to see him too,' persisted Rosimond.

'He is not here,' said the father. 'I had to punish him for a fault, and
he has run away.'

Then Rosimond replied, 'You should have shown him what was right, but
not have punished him. However, let the elder come with me, and as for
you, follow these two guards, who will escort you to a place that I will
point out to them.'

Then the two guards led off the father, and the Fairy of whom you have
heard found him in the forest, and beat him with a golden birch rod,
and cast him into a cave that was very deep and dark, where he lay
enchanted. 'Lie there,' she said, 'till your son comes to take you out
again.'

Meanwhile the son went to the King's palace, and arrived just when the
real prince was absent. He had sailed away to make war on a distant
island, but the winds had been contrary, and he had been shipwrecked on
unknown shores, and taken captive by a savage people. Rosimond made his
appearance at Court in the character of the Prince, whom everyone wept
for as lost, and told them that he had been rescued when at the point
of death by some merchants. His return was the signal for great
public rejoicings, and the King was so overcome that he became quite
speechless, and did nothing but embrace his son. The Queen was even more
delighted, and fetes were ordered over the whole kingdo