I have paid every penny , ' and no more would he say . But the other two were very uneasy , for they felt sure something must be wrong , and the sooner they parted company with Ciccu the better . Ciccu understood what they were thinking , and , drawing forty gold pieces from his pocket , he held out twenty to each , saying , ` Take these and turn them to good account . I am going away to seek my own fortune . ' Then he embraced them , and struck down another road . He wandered on for many days , till at length he came to the town where the king had his court . The first thing Ciccu did was to order himself some fine clothes , and then buy a grand house , just opposite the palace . Next he locked his door , and ordered a shower of gold to cover the staircase , and when this was done , the door was flung wide open , and everyone came and peeped at the shining golden stairs . Lastly the rumour of these wonders reached the ears of the king , who left his palace to behold these splendours with his own eyes . And Ciccu received him with all respect , and showed him over the house . When the king went home he told such stories of what he had seen that his wife and daughter declared that they must go and see them too . So the king sent to ask Ciccu 's leave , and Ciccu answered that if the queen and the princess would be pleased to do him such great honour he would show them anything they wished . Now the princess was as beautiful as the sun , and when Ciccu looked upon her his heart went out to her , and he longed to have her to wife . The princess saw what was passing in his mind , and how she could make use of it to satisfy her curiosity as to the golden stairs ; so she praised him and flattered him , and put cunning questions , till at length Ciccu 's head was quite turned , and he told her the whole story of the fairies and their gifts . Then she begged him to lend her the purse for a few days , so that she could have one made like it , and so great was the love he had for her that he gave it to her at once . The princess returned to the palace , taking with her the purse , which she had not the smallest intention of ever restoring to Ciccu . Very soon Ciccu had spent all the money he had by him , and could get no more without the help of his purse . Of course , he went at once to the king 's daughter , and asked her if she had done with it , but she put him off with some excuse , and told him to come back next day . The next day it was the same thing , and the next , till a great rage filled Ciccu 's heart instead of the love that had been there . And when night came he took in his hand a thick stick , wrapped himself in the coverlet , and wished himself in the chamber of the princess .
The princess was asleep , but XXXXX seized her arm and pulled her out of bed , and beat her till she gave back the purse .
Ciccu course days house left love night palace rumour splendours