" But the King answered, "I have seen all the palace,
and I will know what is in this room also," and he went and tried to
break open the door by force. Then Faithful John held him back and said,
"I promised thy father before his death that thou shouldst not see that
which is in this chamber, it might bring the greatest misfortune on
thee and on me." "Ah, no," replied the young King, "if I do not go in,
it will be my certain destruction. I should have no rest day or night
until I had seen it with my own eyes. I shall not leave the place now
until thou hast unlocked the door."
Then Faithful John saw that there was no help for it now, and with a heavy
heart and many sighs, sought out the key from the great bunch. When he
had opened the door, he went in first, and thought by standing before
him he could hide the portrait so that the King should not see it in
front of him, but what availed that? The King stood on tip-toe and
saw it over his shoulder. And when he saw the portrait of the maiden,
which was so magnificent and shone with gold and precious stones, he
fell fainting to the ground.
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