very merry. He thought only of the beautiful princess, and believed that in
some way he should have help, but how he knew not, and did not like to
think about it; so he danced along the high-road as he went back to the inn,
where he had left his fellow-traveller waiting for him. Jean could not refrain
from telling him how gracious the princess had been, and how beautiful she
looked. He longed for the next day so much, that he might go to the palace
and try his luck at guessing the riddles. But his comrade shook his head, and
looked very mournful. “I do so wish you to do well,” said he; “we might
have continued together much longer, and now I am likely to lose you; you
poor dear Jean! I could shed tears, but I will not make you unhappy on the
last night we may be together. We will be merry, really merry this evening;
to-morrow, after you are gone, shall be able to weep undisturbed.”
It was very quickly known among the inhabitants of the town that another
suitor had arrived for the princess, and there was great sorrow in
consequence. The theatre remained closed, the women who sold
sweetmeats tied crape round the sugar-sticks, and the king and the priests
were on their knees in the church. There was a great lamentation, for no one
expected Jean to succeed better than those who had been suitors before.
In the evening Jean’s comrade prepared a large bowl of punch, and said,
“Now let us be merry, and drink to the health of the princess.” But after
drinking two glasses, Jean became so sleepy, that he could not keep his eyes
open, and fell fast asleep. Then his fellow-traveller lifted him gently out of
his chair, and laid him on the bed; and as soon as it was quite dark, he took
the two large wings which he had cut from the dead swan, and tied them
firmly to his own shoulders. Then he put into his pocket the largest of the
three rods which he had obtained from the old woman who had fallen and
broken her leg. After this he opened the window, and flew away over the
town, straight towards the palace, and seated himself in a corner, under the
window which looked into the bedroom of the princess.
The town was perfectly still when the clocks struck a quarter to twelve.
Presently the window opened, and the princess, who had large black wings
to her shoulders, and a long white mantle, flew away over the city towards a
