-LSB- Illustration : Page 35 -RSB- By this time , you or I , or anyone who was not so extremely clever as Prince Prigio , would have understood what was the matter . He had put on , without knowing it , not only the seven-league boots , but the cap of darkness , and had taken Fortunatus 's purse , which could never be empty , however often you took all the money out . All those and many other delightful wares the fairies had given him at his christening , and the prince had found them in the dark garret . But the prince was so extremely wise , and learned , and scientific , that he did not believe in fairies , nor in fairy gifts . `` It is indigestion , '' he said to himself : `` those sausages were not of the best ; and that Burgundy was extremely strong . Things are not as they appear . '' Here , as he was arguing with himself , he was nearly run over by a splendid carriage and six , the driver of which never took the slightest notice of him . Annoyed at this , the prince leaped up behind , threw down the two footmen , who made no resistance , and so was carried to the door of a magnificent palace . He was determined to challenge the gentleman who was in the carriage ; but , noticing that he had a very beautiful young lady with him , whom he had never seen before , he followed them into the house , not wishing to alarm the girl , and meaning to speak to the gentleman when he found him alone . A great ball was going on ; but , as usual , nobody took any notice of the prince . He walked among the guests , being careful not to jostle them , and listening to their conversation . It was all about himself ! Everyone had heard of his disgrace , and almost everyone cried `` Serve him right ! '' They said that the airs he gave himself were quite unendurable -- that nothing was more rude than to be always in the right -- that cleverness might be carried far too far -- that it was better even to be born stupid -LRB- `` Like the rest of you , '' thought the prince -RRB- ; and , in fact , nobody had a good word for him . Yes , one had ! It was the pretty lady of the carriage . I never could tell you how pretty she was . She was tall , with cheeks like white roses blushing : she had dark hair , and very large dark-grey eyes , and her face was the kindest in the world ! The prince first thought how nice and good she looked , even before he thought how pretty she looked . She stood up for Prince Prigio when her partner would speak ill of him .
She had never seen the prince , XXXXX she was but newly come to Pantouflia ; but she declared that it was his misfortune , not his fault , to be so clever .
among at by for in of that to with without