“You have tricked me!” cried the infuriated damsel. “But do not imagine that you are at the end of your troubles; and,” she added viciously, “you will have cause to lament more than once ere I wed the old King of France.”
They arrived promptly at Paris, where N’Oun Doare presented the lovely Princess to the monarch, saying:
“Sire, I have brought to you the Princess Golden Bell, whom you desire to make your wife.”
N’OUN DOARE AND THE PRINCESS GOLDEN BELL
The King was dazed by the wondrous beauty of the Princess, and was eager for the marriage to take place immediately, but this the royal maiden would not hear of, and declared petulantly that she would not be wed until she had a ring which she had left behind her at her château, in a cabinet of which she had lost the key.
Summoning N’Oun Doare, the King charged him with 113 the task of finding the ring. The unfortunate youth returned to his wise mare, feeling much cast down.
“Why,” said the mare, “foolish one! do you not remember the King of the Birds whom you rescued? Call upon him, and mayhap he will aid you as he promised to do.”
With a return of hope N’Oun Doare did as he was bid, and immediately the royal bird was with him, and asked him in what way he could help him. Upon N’Oun Doare explaining his difficulty, the Bird-King summoned all his subjects, calling each one by name. They came, but none of them appeared to be small enough to enter the cabinet by way of the keyhole, which was the only means of entrance. The wren was decided to be the only bird with any chance of success, and he set out for the château.