'Ah!' replied he, looking very wise, 'it is because the Princess is so ugly.'
'Because she is so ugly? I—I don't understand.'
'What! From the very first the Prince's waking hours have been one long, frightful dream; and he can only banish it by night by taking the sleeping-draught. The Prince is deeply in love with the Princess's sister, but no one but myself knows that. Every night, when he sinks to sleep under the draught, he smiles, and his face looks so very happy, and he whispers one name again and again: "Florine! Florine!"'
The peasant girl's heart beat hard, and a plan shot like lightning through her mind. She would tell this man everything and he would help her. She knew he would, and she knew also that he would not be blind to his own advantage. Her mind was quickly made up. The four little eggs the Good Fairy had given her were packed in a little box. Taking this from the folds of her dress she took one of them and threw it on the floor.
'I am Florine!' she said. 'And I want your willing help.'
The head valet stared at her in dismay. Then his face changed. He bowed to her with the utmost respect, and said: 'Princess, I am your faithful slave; command me and I will obey.'
'First, then,' said Florine, 'do not give the Prince the draught to-night; and find me an apartment next to his.'
'It shall be done,' replied the valet, and with a low bow he withdrew to make the arrangement.
'Stay!' cried Florine as he was going. 'I forbid you to tell the Prince a word of this. You understand?'
'And obey,' he replied, bowing again and again as he left her presence, walking backwards in respect to high royalty.