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 , for she was but newly come to Pantouflia ; but she declared that it was his misfortune , not his fault , to be so clever . `` And , then , think how hard they made him work at school ! Besides , '' said this kind young lady , `` I hear he is extremely handsome , and very brave ; and he has a good heart , for he was kind , I have heard , to a poor boy , and did all his examination papers for him , so that the boy passed first in everything . And now he is Minister for Education , though he ca n't do a line of Greek prose ! '' The prince blushed at this , for he knew his conduct had not been honourable . But he at once fell over head and ears in love with the young lady , a thing he had never done in his life before , because -- he said -- `` women were so stupid ! '' You see he was so clever ! Now , at this very moment -- when the prince , all of a sudden , was as deep in love as if he had been the stupidest officer in the room -- an extraordinary thing happened ! Something seemed to give a whirr ! in his brain , and in one instant he knew all about it !
He believed in fairies and fairy gifts , and understood that his cap was the cap XXXXX darkness , and his shoes the seven-league boots , and his purse the purse of Fortunatus !
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