And Ladronius looked her straight in the face and answered, “Most gracious princess, the most wicked thing I ever did in my life was to cut off my brother’s head in His Majesty’s treasure-house, and the cleverest was when I made the sentinels drunk and carried off my brother’s body.”

Scarcely were the words out of his mouth, when the princess jumped up and caught him, as she supposed, by the arm, at the same time crying out for the guards, who were concealed behind the throne.  But, to her dismay, the arm seemed to part company with the rest of the body, and she was left with the cloak of Ladronius and the arm of the dead man, while Ladronius himself was out of the temple before she had recovered from her surprise; nor could the guards find any trace of him outside.

The princess went back to her father in fear and trembling, and related how Ladronius had escaped once more; but the king was so amazed at the daring and skill of the young man, that he quite forgot to be angry.

The picture of the princess holding the arm that had no body attached to it, and gazing blankly after the departing figure of Ladronius, so took his fancy, that he lay back on his couch, and laughed till his sides ached.

“Bast!” he cried at length.  “If the youth is really as clever as this, I would rather have him my friend than my enemy.  Such a man should be rewarded and not punished for his genius.  So he made you a present of his cloak too, did he?” And the king collapsed once more.

“And what manner of youth is he?” he asked the princess; the princess answered, with a blush, that he looked like a brave young man.

“That I am sure he is,” said the king.  “I have learnt it to my cost.  And he is not ill-looking?”

“No,” said the princess; she would not describe him as ill-looking.

“Ah! well,” said the king dryly, “we must see whether we cannot find some means of securing his friendship.”

So King Rhampsinitus ordered another proclamation to be made, promising that if the robber would present himself to the king and confess how he had broken into the treasury, the king would grant him a free pardon and a great reward beside.

Ladronius was not long in making up his mind.  He knew that kings were not always above treachery, but he had survived so many dangers that he determined to risk this also.  He arrayed himself, therefore, in his best attire, and boldly presented himself to the king, who was delighted with his courage and bade him relate the whole story fearlessly.  And when Rhampsinitus heard of the secret way into his treasury, he would not rest until he had seen the sliding stone and moved it for himself.  He laughed heartily when he remembered how he had put another lock on the door, and how he had posted a sentinel in the one place where he could see nothing of the thieves.  Then he returned to the palace, and sent for the princess, his daughter.  Presently she entered with her train