“One thing I would strongly advise,” said the Gryphoness, “and that is, that you do not travel any farther until we know in what direction it will be best to go.  There is an inn close by, kept by a worthy woman.  If you will stop there until to-morrow, this young man and I will scour the country round about, and try to find some news of your Prince.  The young man will return and report to you to-morrow morning.  And if you should need help, or escort, he will aid and obey you as your servant.  As for me, unless we have found the Prince, I shall continue searching for him.  There is a prince in the city to the north of my master’s tower, and it is not unlikely that it is he whom you seek.”

“You can find out if it is he,” answered the Princess, “by asking about the philopena.”

“That will I do,” said the Gryphoness, “and I will return hither as speedily as possible.”  And, with a respectful salutation, the Gryphoness and the Absolute Fool departed by different ways.

The Princess then repaired to the inn, where she took lodgings.

The next morning, the Absolute Fool came back to the inn, and seeing the Princess, said:  “I rode until after night-fall, searching for the Prince, before it occurred to me that, even if I should find him, I would not know him in the dark.  As soon as I thought of that, I rode straight to the nearest house, and slept until daybreak, when I remembered that I was to report to you this morning.  But as I have heard no news of the Prince, and as this is a beautiful, clear day, I think it would be extremely foolish to remain idly here, where there is nothing of interest going on, and when a single hour’s delay may cause you to miss the object of your search.  The Prince may be in one place this morning, and there is no knowing where he will be in the afternoon.  While the Gryphoness is searching, we should search also.  We can return before sunset, and we will leave word here as to the direction we have taken, so that when she returns, she can quickly overtake us.  It is my opinion that not a moment should be lost.  I will be your guide.  I know this country well.”

The Princess thought this sounded like good reasoning, and consented to set out.  There were some beautiful mountains to the south-east; and among these, the Absolute Fool declared, a prince of good taste would be very apt to dwell.  They, therefore, took this direction.  But when they had travelled an hour or more, the mountains began to look bare and bleak, and the Absolute Fool declared that he did not believe any prince would live there.  He therefore advised that they turn into a road that led to the north-east.  It was a good road; and therefore he thought it led to a good place, where a person of good sense would be likely to reside.  Along this road they therefore travelled.  They had ridden but a few miles when they met three men, well armed and mounted.  These men drew up their horses, and respectfully saluted the Princess.