Well, after a good night’s rest Jack woke his master in early morn, and having furnished him well with gold and silver from the giant’s treasure, bade him ride three miles forward on his journey.  So when Jack judged that the Prince was pretty well out of the smell of the giant, he took the key and let his prisoner out.  He was half dead with cold and damp, but very grateful; and he begged Jack to let him know what he would be given as a reward for saving the giant’s life and castle from destruction, and he should have it.

“You’re very welcome,” said Jack, who always had his eyes about him.  “All I want is the old coat and cap, together with the rusty old sword and slippers which are at your bed-head.”

When the giant heard this he sighed and shook his head.  “You don’t know what you are asking,” quoth he.  “They are the most precious things I possess, but as I have promised, you must have them.  The coat will make you invisible, the cap will tell you all you want to know, the sword will cut asunder whatever you strike, and the slippers will take you wherever you want to go in the twinkling of an eye!”

So Jack, overjoyed, rode away with the coat and cap, the sword and the slippers, and soon overtook his master; and they rode on together until they reached the castle where the beautiful lady lived whom the Prince sought.

Now she was very beautiful, for all she was possessed of seven devils, and when she heard the Prince sought her as a suitor, she smiled and ordered a splendid banquet to be prepared for his reception.  And she sate on his right hand, and plied him with food and drink.

And when the repast was over she took out her own handkerchief and wiped his lips gently, and said, with a smile: 

“I have a task for you, my lord!  You must show me that kerchief to-morrow morning or lose your head.”

And with that she put the handkerchief in her bosom and said, “Good-night!”

The Prince was in despair, but Jack said nothing till his master was in bed.  Then he put on the old cap he had got from the giant, and lo! in a minute he knew all that he wanted to know.  So, in the dead of the night, when the beautiful lady called on one of her familiar spirits to carry her to Lucifer himself, Jack was beforehand with her, and putting on his coat of darkness and his slippers of swiftness, was there as soon as she was.  And when she gave the handkerchief to the Devil, bidding him keep it safe, and he put it away on a high shelf, Jack just up and nipped it away in a trice!

So the next morning, when the beauteous enchanted lady looked to see the Prince crestfallen, he just made a fine bow and presented her with the handkerchief.

At first she was terribly disappointed, but, as the day drew on, she ordered another and still more splendid repast to be got ready.  And this time, when the repast was over, she kissed the Prince full on the lips and said: