THE BROAD MAN 163

while she, on her side, received the brilliant and handsome
young man most graciously, not trying to hide how much she
liked his good looks and gentle manner. Hardly had the
king retired when Broad lay down across the threshold; Tall
and the Man with Eyes of Flame placed themselves near the
window ; while Matthias talked with the princess, and watched
her every movement attentively.

Suddenly she ceased to speak, then after a few moments
said, “T feel as if a shower of poppies were falling on my
eyelids.”

And she lay down on the couch, pretending to sleep.

Matthias did not breathe a word. Seeing her asleep he
sat down at a table near the sofa, leaned his elbows upon
it, and rested his chin in the hollow of his hands. Gradually
he felt drowsy and his eyes closed, as did those of his com-
panions..

Now this was the moment the princess was waiting for.
Quickly changing herself into a dove, she flew towards the
window. If it had not happened that one of her wings
touched Tall’s hair he would not have awakened, and he would
certainly never have succeeded in catching her if it had not
been for the Man with Eyes of Flame, for he, as soon as he
knew which direction she had taken, sent such a glance after
her, that is, a flame of fire, that in the twinkling of an eye her
wings were burnt, and having been thus stopped, she was
obliged to perch on the top of a tree. From thence Tall
reached her easily, and placed her in Matthias’ hands, where
she became a princess again. Matthias had hardly awakened.
out of his sleep.

Next morning and the morning after the king was greatly