They were very good to her, for, said they, “Don Juan is not only king of the animals but of the giants and monsters of every kind.”

Then the giants took her to Don Juan’s city and found her a place in the house of an old childless couple, and there she made her home.  But Don Juan had taken another wife, the Lady Loriana, and the new wife saw the old and desired her for a servant.  So the Princess Maria became a servant of her rival, and often sat in old rags under the stairs at her work, while her faithless husband passed her without seeing her.

The poor girl was torn with jealousy and spent much time thinking about how she might win her husband again.  So she asked the ring for a toy in the form of a beautiful little chick, just from the egg.

The Lady Loriana saw the pretty toy and begged for it.  “No,” said Maria, “unless you grant me a little favor, that I may sleep on the floor to-night in your room.”  So Loriana, suspecting no deceit, agreed.

That night Maria wished on her ring that Loriana might be overcome with sleep, and again that her own rags might be transformed into royal raiment and that her tiara should glitter on her forehead.  Then she went to the head of the bed and called Don Juan.  At first he would not answer, then, without turning to look at the speaker, he bade her go away, as his wife would be angry.  “But that is not your wife, Don Juan,” said Maria; “I am your true wife, Maria.  Look at my dress and the jewels on my forehead—­my face, the ring on my finger.”  And Don Juan saw that she was indeed the deserted wife, and after he had heard the sad story of her wanderings he loved her afresh.  The next day at noon-time Maria was not to be found, although Dona Loriana looked everywhere.  At last she looked into Don Juan’s room, and there, locked in each other’s arms fast asleep, were Don Juan and Princess Maria.

Loriana aroused them, angrily saying to Maria, “Why do you wish to steal my husband?  You must leave this house at once.”  But Maria resisted saying, “No, he is not your husband but mine, and I will not give him up.”  And so they quarrelled long and bitterly, but at last agreed to be judged by the council.

There each told her story, and Maria showed Don Juan’s enchanted ring, which worked its wonders for her but would not obey the Lady Loriana.

When the matter was decided, it was the judgment of all, including the Archbishop, that Maria was the lawful wife, but that she and Don Juan must go away and never return.

So Don Juan and the Princess Maria went away and lived long and happily.

CHAPTER 17

The Artificial Earthquake.

There was once in another town a man who had three daughters, all very beautiful.  But one of them had an admirer, who by some means excited the old man’s wrath, and the daughter was sent to a distant place.