On hearing this advice , the princess went at once into the emperor 's presence . ` May a long life be yours , O Sovereign all mighty ! ' said she . ' I have come to tell you that I can do as you command if you will give me twenty ships , and load them with the most precious wares in your kingdom . ' ` You shall have all that I possess if you will bring me the golden-haired Iliane , ' said the emperor . The ships were soon ready , and the princess entered the largest and finest , with Sunlight at her side . Then the sails were spread and the voyage began . For seven weeks the wind blew them straight towards the west , and early one morning they caught sight of the island swamps of the sea . They cast anchor in a little bay , and the princess made haste to disembark with Sunlight , but , before leaving the ship , she tied to her belt a pair of tiny gold slippers , adorned with precious stones . Then mounting Sunlight , she rode about till she came to several palaces , built on hinges , so that they could always turn towards the sun . The most splendid of these was guarded by three slaves , whose greedy eyes were caught by the glistening gold of the slippers . They hastened up to the owner of these treasures , and inquired who he was . ' A merchant , ' replied the princess , ` who had somehow missed his road , and lost himself among the island swamps of the sea . ' Not knowing if it was proper to receive him or not , the slaves returned to their mistress and told her all they had seen , but not before she had caught sight of the merchant from the roof of her palace . Luckily her gaoler was away , always trying to catch the stud of mares , so for the moment she was free and alone . The slaves told their tale so well that their mistress insisted on going down to the shore and seeing the beautiful slippers for herself . They were even lovelier than she expected , and when the merchant besought her to come on board , and inspect some that he thought were finer still , her curiosity was too great to refuse , and she went . Once on board ship , she was so busy turning over all the precious things stored there , that she never knew that the sails were spread , and that they were flying along with the wind behind them ; and when she did know , she rejoiced in her heart , though she pretended to weep and lament at being carried captive a second time . Thus they arrived at the court of the emperor . They were just about to land , when the mother of the genius stood before them .
She had learnt that XXXXX had fled from her prison in company with a merchant , and , as her son was absent , had come herself in pursuit .
Iliane Sunlight eyes gaoler hearing morning owner presence second weeks