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 of darkness , and his shoes the seven-league boots , and his purse the purse of Fortunatus ! He had read about those things in historical books : but now he believed in them . CHAPTER VII . The Prince Falls in Love . He understood all this , and burst out laughing , which nearly frightened an old lady near him out of her wits . Ah ! how he wished he was only in evening dress , that he might dance with the charming young lady . But there he was , dressed just as if he were going out to hunt , if anyone could have seen him .
So , even if he took off his cap XXXXX darkness , and became visible , he was no figure for a ball .
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