The Knight rode straight up to the palace door, and when he saw the Princess at the window he smiled and said:
‘Good morning, your Majesty—you see I am returned.’
And the Princess said:
‘Good morning,’ as if she were very glad to see him, for she had not yet quite made up her mind about what she was going to do—for of course she could not marry him after what she had seen the night before. So she drew back from the window to think about it—for it would never do to try to get rid of him by force. At last she hit upon a plan—she had to think of it herself—for the Owl would tell her nothing.
She went to the door of her room, but there were no guards at the door—they had run down to see what the shouting was about. But just then the doctor came up the stairs:
‘Good morning, your Majesty,’ he said; ‘have you had a good night?’
‘A very good night, thank you, doctor. But that doesn’t matter just now. I want the Prince of India.’
‘I beg your pardon,’ said the doctor.
‘I say I want the Prince of India.’
‘The who?’ said the astonished doctor.