The princess put on her own clothes, and hid in a cupboard of the room. When she saw her lover leave the room, and heard him go down the staircase, she closed the door behind him and finished her toilet.
The king got up earlier than usual, for he was so anxious to see the new arrival; but before doing so he sent for the barber to shave him.
They looked everywhere for him, but without success; and at last, in despair, they went to the bedroom of the new arrival, and, knocking at the door, intimated the king’s command that she should present herself.
The princess was ready; and, slipping past the courtiers, presented herself before the king.
“Who are you?” inquired the king.
“I am the daughter of the King of Castille, as I informed your mercy yesterday,” answered the princess.
“But where, then, is my barber?” rejoined the king.
“What does one king’s daughter know about another king’s barber?” said the princess.
At this moment the real barber presented himself, and humbly begged the king’s pardon for having deceived him.
“But who are you?” roared the king. “Are you a barber or a thief?”