She only thought you a poor knight , and agreed that as you wished it , the marriage should be kept secret . ` After the ceremony you gave her three rings and a charm with a cross on it , and then put her in a cottage in the forest , thinking to hide the matter securely . ` For some months you visited the cottage every week ; but a rebellion broke out in a distant part of the kingdom , and called for your presence . When next you rode up to the cottage , it was empty , and none could inform you whither your bride had gone . That , sire , I can now tell you , ' and the young man paused and looked at the king , who coloured deeply . ` She went back to her father the old duke , once your chamberlain , and the cross on her breast revealed at once who you were . Fierce was his anger when he heard his daughter 's tale , and he vowed that he would hide her safely from you , till the day when you would claim her publicly as your queen . ` By and bye I was born , and was brought up by my grandfather in one of his great houses . Here are the rings you gave to my mother , and here is the cross , and these will prove if I am your son or not . ' As he spoke the young man laid the jewels at the feet of the king , and the nobles and the judges pressed round to examine them . The king alone did not move from his seat , for he had forgotten the hall of justice and all about him , and saw only the apple-orchard , as it was twenty years ago , and the beautiful girl playing at ball . A sudden silence round him made him look up , and he found the eyes of the assembly fixed on him . ` It is true ; it is he who is my son , and not the other , ' he said with an effort , ` and let every man present swear to acknowledge him as king , after my death . ' Therefore one by one they all knelt before him and took the oath , and a message was sent to the false prince , forbidding him ever again to appear at court , though a handsome pension was granted him . At last the ceremony was over , and the king , signing to his newly found son to follow him , rose and went into another room . ` Tell me how you knew all that , ' he said , throwing himself into a carved chair filled with crimson cushions , and the prince told of his meeting with the old woman who had brought him the jewels from his mother , and how he had sworn before a priest to marry her , though he did not want to do it , on account of the difference in their ages , and besides , he would rather receive a bride chosen by the king himself . But the king frowned , and answered sharply : ` You swore to marry her if she saved your life , and , come what may , you must fulfil your promise . ' Then , striking a silver shield that hung close by , he said to the equerry who appeared immediately : ` Go and seek the priest who lives near the door of the prison , and ask him where you can find the old woman who visited him last night ; and when you have found her , bring her to the palace . ' It took some time to discover the whereabouts of the old woman , but at length it was accomplished , and when she arrived at the palace with the equerry , she was received with royal honours , as became the bride of the prince . The guards looked at each other with astonished eyes , as the wizened creature , bowed with age , passed between their lines ; but they were more amazed still at the lightness of her step as she skipped up the steps to the great door before which the king was standing , with the prince at his side .
If they both felt a shock at the appearance of the aged lady they did not show it , and the king , XXXXX a grave bow , took her band , and led her to the chapel , where a bishop was waiting to perform the marriage ceremony .
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