He answered that he was so faint and giddy with hunger that he had imagined he saw and heard all sorts of strange things . Thereupon , in spite of the King 's orders , the guards gave him an excellent supper , and when he had eaten it he again opened his book , but could see none of the wonderful pictures , which convinced him that he must have been dreaming before . However , when he went into he gallery next day and looked at the painted windows again , he found that they moved , and the figures came and went as if they had been alive , and after watching the one who was like himself find the key in the crack of the turret wall and open the old cabinet , he determined to go and examine the place himself , and try to find out what the mystery was . So he went up into the turret and began to search about and tap upon the walls , and all at once he came upon a place that sounded hollow . Taking a hammer he broke away a bit of the stone , and found behind it a little golden key . The next thing to do was to find the cabinet , and the Prince soon came to it , hidden away in a dark corner , though indeed it was so old and battered-looking that he would never have noticed it of his own accord . At first he could not see any keyhole , but after a careful search he found one hidden in the carving , and the golden key just fitted it ; so the Prince gave it a vigorous turn and the doors flew open . Ugly and old as the cabinet was outside , nothing could have been more rich and beautiful than what met the Prince 's astonished eyes . Every drawer was made of crystal , of amber , or of some precious stone , and was quite full of every kind of treasure . Prince Curlicue was delighted ; he opened one after another , until at last he came to one tiny drawer which contained only an emerald key . ' I believe that this must open that little golden door in the middle , ' said the Prince to himself . And he fitted in the little key and turned it . The tiny door swung back , and a soft crimson light gleamed over the whole cabinet . The Prince found that it proceeded from an immense glowing carbuncle , made into a box , which lay before him . He lost no time in opening it , but what was his horror when he found that it contained a man 's hand , which was holding a portrait . His first thought was to put back the terrible box and fly from the turret ; but a voice in his ear said , ` This hand belonged to one whom you can help and restore . Look at this beautiful portrait , the original of which was the cause of all my misfortunes , and if you wish to help me , go without a moment 's delay to the great gallery , notice where the sun 's rays fall most brightly , and if you seek there you will find my treasure . ' The voice ceased , and though the Prince in his bewilderment asked various questions , he received no answer . So he put back the box and locked the cabinet up again , and , having replaced the key in the crack in the wall , hastened down to the gallery . When he entered it all the windows shook and clattered in the strangest way , but the Prince did not heed them ; he was looking so carefully for the place where the sun shone most brightly , and it seemed to him that it was upon the portrait of a most splendidly handsome young man .
He went up and examined it , and found that it rested against the ebony and gold panelling , just like any of the other pictures XXXXX the gallery .
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