When Diafebus had the opportunity, he went to the princess's chamber and found her with all the maidens. When the princess saw him, she got up to go to him. Diafebus hurried toward her, and knelt and kissed her hand, saying:
"This kiss is from someone whom Your Highness has condemned to a stronger prison than the one that the prisoners I have brought are in."
As the maidens approached, he could say nothing further for fear that they might hear him. But she took him by the hand and they went to a window- seat. Then the princess summoned Stephanie, and Diafebus said:
"Your Highness should not forget such a noble knight, and the lack of liberty he has had since the moment he saw you."
Smiling, the princess answered:
"Oh Diafebus, my brother! I receive your words as the vassal of your lord, and I return his wishes just as strongly, and even more so."
As they were speaking, the emperor came in and saw Diafebus deeply involved in conversation with his daughter, and he said:
"Upon my father's bones, what a wonderful sight to see how these maidens like to hear of the exploits of these good knights."
And he told his daughter to leave the room and go out to the main plaza in the market-place. Diafebus went with the emperor; then he came back to escort the empress and the princess. When they were in the market-place they saw a large cenotaph that the emperor had made, entirely covered with cloth of gold and silk. When all the ladies had been seated, the emperor commanded that all the prisoners be brought out, and they were ordered to sit on the ground, Moors as well as Christians.
Then the people were silenced, and the following proclamation was read: