CHAPTER VI

THE CURSE—AND THE WAY OUT

OW long he slept it is impossible
to say, because the Prince him-
self never knew, and nobody else
: was there when he first closed
his eyes. He woke up suddenly with a
start, being thus roused by an exclamation of

 
 

surprise which was very nearly a scream, and
which was uttered by some one very near him.
No sooner had he opened his eyes than he
perceived that the exclamation came from a
person of the other sex. A young person it
was, and one of singularly beautiful appear-
ance, so much so that the first thought of
the Prince was one of extreme wonder that
anything so lovely should be found among