YELLOW PRINCE.  A most absorbing life.  Some day we must have a long talk about it.  But just now I have other business waiting for me.  With your permission, good friend, I will leave you to your faggots. (He starts to go.)

WOODCUTTER.  Beg your pardon, sir, but are you one of those Princes that want to marry our Princess?

YELLOW PRINCE.  I had hoped, good friend, to obtain your permission to do so.  I beg you not to refuse it.

WOODCUTTER.  You are making fun of me, sir.

YELLOW PRINCE.  Discerning creature.

WOODCUTTER.  All the same, I can help you.

YELLOW PRINCE.  Then pray do so, log-chopper, and earn my everlasting gratitude.

WOODCUTTER.  The King has decided that whichever of you three Princes has the kindest heart shall marry his daughter.

YELLOW PRINCE.  Then you will be able to bear witness to him that I have already wasted several minutes of my valuable time in condescending to a mere faggot-splitter.  Tell him this and the prize is mine. (Kissing the tips of his fingers) Princess, I embrace you.

WOODCUTTER.  The King will not listen to me.  But if you return here in five minutes, you will find an old woman begging for bread.  It is the test which their Majesties have arranged for you.  If you share your last crust with her—­

YELLOW PRINCE.  Yes, but do I look as if I carried a last crust about with me?

WOODCUTTER.  But see, I will give you one.

YELLOW PRINCE (taking it between the tips of his fingers).  Yes, but—­

WOODCUTTER.  Put it in your pocket, and when—­

YELLOW PRINCE.  But, my dear bark-scraper, have you no feeling for clothes at all?  How can I put a thing like this in my pocket? (Handing it back to him) I beg you to wrap it up.  Here take this. (Gives him a scarf) Neatly, I pray you. (Taking an orange ribbon out of his pocket) Perhaps a little of this round it would make it more tolerable.  You think so?  I leave it to you.  I trust your taste entirely. . . .  Leaving a loop for the little finger, I entreat you . . . so. (He hangs it on his little finger) In about five minutes, you said?  We will be there.  (With a bow) We thank you.

(He departs delicately.  The WOODCUTTER smiles to himself, puts down his axe and goes off to the PRINCESS.  And just in time.  For behold! the KING and QUEEN return.  At least we think it is the QUEEN, but she is so heavily disguised by a cloak which she wears over her court dress, that for a moment we are not quite sure.)

KING.  Now then, my love, if you will sit down on that log there—­(placing her)—­excellent—­I think perhaps you should remove the crown. (Removes it) There!  Now the disguise is perfect.

QUEEN.  You’re sure they are coming?  It’s a very uncomfortable seat.

KING.  I told them that the Princess was waiting for them here.  Their natural disappointment at finding I was mistaken will make the test of their good nature an even more exacting one.  My own impression is that the Yellow Prince will be the victor.