Coralie's mother began to explain the reason for their coming. But Merlin stopped her.
"I know all about your daughter, my good lady," he said. "She is one of the greatest liars in the world. She often makes me ill."
Merlin's face looked so stern that Coralie hid her face under her mother's cloak. Her father stood before her to keep her from harm.
"Do not fear," said Merlin. "I am not going to hurt your little girl. I only wish to make her a present."
He opened a drawer and took from it a magnificent amethyst necklace. It was fastened with a shining clasp of diamonds.
Merlin put the necklace on Coralie's neck and said, "Go in peace, my friends. Your little daughter carries with her a sure guardian of the truth."
Then he looked sternly at Coralie and said, "In a year I shall come for my necklace. Do not dare to take it off for a single moment. If you do, harm will come to you!"
"Oh, I shall always love to wear it! It is so beautiful!" cried Coralie. And this is the way she came by the wonderful Necklace of Truth.
The day after Coralie returned home she was sent to school. As she had long been absent, the little girls crowded round her. There was a cry of admiration at sight of the necklace.
"Where did it come from? Where did you get it?" they asked.