And now the black carriage and spirited horses drove up. The three entered it with the dog and were whirled away.
By noon it was rumored in that street that her royal highness, the princess of the land, had walked through it, dressed like one of the common people.
Within the carriage the princess was weeping tears of joy above her pet.
"If it is you, Goldilocks, if it is you!" she kept repeating; but the dog clung to the one who had recognized his topaz eyes in spite of everything.
"He is not fit, yet, for your highness to touch," said Gabriel, "but if you will give me one hour, I will show him to you unchanged."
That afternoon there was rejoicing at the palace. All had felt the influence of the princess's grief, for she was the idol of the king and queen; and now, as Topaz capered again, a living sunbeam, through corridor and garden, all had a word of praise for the peasant boy who had restored him to his home.
At evening the princess received a message from Gabriel and ordered that he be sent to her.
In a minute he entered, dressed in the shabby garments in which he had leaped upon the coach step. In his hand he held a little rusty book, and his clear eyes looked steadily at the princess, with the honest light which had first made her listen to him.
"I come to say farewell, your highness," he said.
A line showed in her forehead. "What reward have they given you?"