Then he went to his tutor to learn if anything were known about the matter. The tutor’s answer was one which gladdened the young man’s heart. He returned to the palace and sat down at a window, to look at the house across the way, if, haply, he might catch sight of the one who had so entranced him.
Presently the princess appeared at her window; when his mind fell into a pitiable state. “A young woman!” he said to himself. “Who can she be? She is so like him as to be some relative of the young captain who so enchanted me. And both are like that wonderful vision of two years ago.”
As he continued to look at her, standing there [[219]]with the curls floating down upon either side of her face, he felt that it would be impossible to find her like in the world.
When the princess discovered the prince looking at her, she drew back hastily and the window was closed. But the poor young man—whose yielding to companions had caused his undoing before—had fallen more deeply in love this time. He determined not to be thwarted, and went to all sides of the house, grieving miserably at his inability to find her again. Finally, when night came on, he withdrew into his own room, where he became lost in meditation.
At the dawn of morning he hastened out to the kiosk, to look again at the other house; but, though he waited long, he was filled with grief to see that the windows continued shut. Unable to bear the suspense longer, he went to his mother, kissed her hand, and said:
“O, my queen mother! You have long wished me to marry; but I have been unwilling. Now, in the house across the way, in the family of this young captain, there is one with whom I am deeply in love. Take her this jewel box, I pray. Give it into her hands and beg that I may see her again. If this be not brought to pass, life will become of no worth to me.” [[220]]
Very much against her will, but because she was a fond mother, the queen, accompanied by a minister of state, sought admittance at the house of the strangers and was admitted, with due reverence, by the princess herself, to whom the jewel box was presented.
The unknown princess accepted it courteously, then summoned the maidens from the kitchen and, without showing the slightest interest in the contents, gave it to them.
The queen could hardly smother her indignation and surprise, as she announced: “The prince, my dear young lady, sends you his very special greeting and is very desirous of meeting you. What answer shall be returned to His Royal Highness?”
The princess seemed lost in such deep thought as to be unconscious of any presence; and did not recover herself, although the queen addressed her twice.