a serpent with the head of a woman, but the Kinglet had no such fears.
And, besides, he felt the fascination of Ludovine's eyes, which looked
at him as a snake looks at a little bird. They were beautiful green
eyes, not round like those of a cat, but long and almond-shaped, and
they shone with a strange light, and the golden hair which floated round
them seemed all the brighter for their lustre. The face had the beauty
of an angel, though the body was only that of a serpent.

'What must I do?' asked the Kinglet.

'Open that door. You will find yourself in a gallery with a room at the
end just like this. Cross that, and you will see a closet, out of which
you must take a tunic, and bring it back to me.'

The little soldier boldly prepared to do as he was told. He crossed the
gallery in safety, but when he reached the room he saw by the light
of the stars eight hands on a level with his face, which threatened to
strike him. And, turn his eyes which way he would, he could discover no
bodies belonging to them.

He lowered his head and rushed forward amidst a storm of blows, which he
returned with his fists. When he got to the closet, he opened it, took
down the tunic, and brought it to the first room.

'Here it is,' he panted, rather out of breath.

'Clic!' once more the flames parted. Ludovine was a woman down to her
waist. She took the tunic and put it on.

It was a magnificent tunic of orange velvet, embroidered in pearls, but
the pearls were not so white as her own neck.

'That is not all,' she said. 'Go to the gallery, take the staircase
which is on the left, and in the second room on the first story you will
find another closet with my skirt. Bring this to me.'

The Kinglet did as he was told, but in entering the room he saw,
instead of merely hands, eight arms, each holding an enormous stick. He
instantly unsheathed his sword and cut his way through with such vigour
that he hardly received a scratch.

He brought back the skirt, which was made of silk as blue as the skies
of Spain.

'Here it is,' said John, as the serpent appeared. She was now a woman as
far as her knees.

'I only want my shoes and stockings now,' she said. 'Go and get them
from the closet which is on the second story.'

The little soldier departed, and found himself in the presence of eight
goblins armed with hammers, and flames darting from their eyes. This
time he stopped short at the threshold. 'My sword is no use,' he thought
to h