"What does Queen Honoria do that is so clever?" asked the new queen.
"Queen Honoria will take a sword and cut off her head. Then she will put it back on again so that it is as good as new. I don't believe you are clever enough to do that."
"I never tried it," answered the new queen, "but just to show you that I'm as clever as Queen Honoria I'll do it."
With these words she seized a sword and cut off her head. Of course she fell dead immediately. The king married a new queen.
Then the servant went to the new queen and said: "Queen Honoria who is shut up in the dark cell underneath the palace is more clever than you are."
The new queen was indignant at this remark. "Why is she more clever than I am?" she asked. "What can she do that I can't do?"
"She can take a sword and cut off her hand. Then she'll stick the hand on again and it will be as good as new."
"I've never tried it, but I'll do it just to convince you that I am clever too," said this new queen.
She took up a sword and cut off her right hand. Then she fainted away. The arm grew full of poison and the queen soon died, but not until she had told the king what the servant had said to her.
The king was very angry at the servant and called her to him.