And again the doe did as she was bid . ` You are right , ' said the prince ; ` but it is with sorrow I give her up to you , for though I have wounded her yet I love her deeply . ' To this Eglantine answered nothing ; but carefully raising up the doe , she led her slowly to the hut . Now both the prince and Becasigue were quite unaware that the old woman had any guests besides themselves , and , following afar , were much surprised to behold Eglantine and her charge enter the cottage . They lost no time in questioning the old woman , who replied that she knew nothing about the lady and her white doe , who slept next the chamber occupied by the prince and his friend , but that they were very quiet , and paid her well . Then she went back to her kitchen . ` Do you know , ' said Becasigue , when they were alone , ' I am certain that the lady we saw is the maid of honour to the Princess Desiree , whom I met at the palace . And , as her room is next to this , it will be easy to make a small hole through which I can satisfy myself whether I am right or not . ' So , taking a knife out of his pocket , he began to saw away the woodwork . The girls heard the grating noise , but fancying it was a mouse , paid no attention , and Becasigue was left in peace to pursue his work . At length the hole was large enough for him to peep through , and the sight was one to strike him dumb with amazement . He had guessed truly : the tall lady was Eglantine herself ; but the other -- where had he seen her ? Ah ! now he knew -- it was the lady of the portrait ! Desiree , in a flowing dress of green silk , was lying stretched out upon cushions , and as Eglantine bent over her to bathe the wounded leg , she began to talk : ` Oh ! let me die , ' cried she , ` rather than go on leading this life . You can not tell the misery of being a beast all the day , and unable to speak to the man I love , to whose impatience I owe my cruel fate . Yet , even so , I can not bring myself to hate him . ' These words , low though they were spoken , reached Becasigue , who could hardly believe his ears . He stood silent for a moment ; then , crossing to the window out of which the prince was gazing , he took his arm and led him across the room .
A single glance was sufficient XXXXX show the prince that it was indeed Desiree ; and how another had come to the palace bearing her name , at that instant he neither knew nor cared .
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