` If I could but get up into the turret , ' she thought , ` to see if any one is coming . ' But to climb up there seemed impossible . Nevertheless she presently hit upon a plan . The great clock was in the turret , as she knew , though the weights hung down into the gallery . Taking one of them off the rope , she tied herself on in its place , and when the clock was wound , up she went triumphantly into the turret . She looked out over the country the first thing , but seeing nothing she sat down to rest a little , and accidentally leant back against the wall which Curlicue , or rather Prince Peerless , had so hastily mended . Out fell the broken stone , and with it the golden key . The clatter it made upon the floor attracted the Princess Cabbage-Stalk 's attention . She picked it up , and after a moment 's consideration decided that it must belong to the curious old cabinet in the corner , which had no visible keyhole . And then it was not long before she had it open , and was admiring the treasures it contained as much as Prince Peerless had done before her , and at last she came to the carbuncle box . No sooner had she opened it than with a shudder of horror she tried to throw it down , but found that some mysterious power compelled her to hold it against her will . And at this moment a voice in her ear said softly : ` Take courage , Princess ; upon this adventure your future happiness depends . ' ` What am I to do ? ' said the Princess trembling . ` Take the box , ' replied the voice , ` and hide it under your pillow , and when you see an Eagle , give it to him without losing a moment . ' Terrified as the Princess was , she did not hesitate to obey , and hastened to put back all the other precious things precisely as she had found them . By this time her guards were seeking her everywhere , and they were amazed to find her up in the turret , for they said she could only have got there by magic . For three days nothing happened , but at last in the night the Princess heard something flutter against her window , and drawing back her curtains she saw in the moonlight that it was an Eagle . Limping across at her utmost speed she threw the window open , and the great Eagle sailed in beating with his wings for joy . The Princess lost no time in offering it the carbuncle box , which it grasped in its talons , and instantly disappeared , leaving in its place the most beautiful Prince she had ever seen , who was splendidly dressed , and wore a diamond crown .
` Princess , ' said he , ` XXXXX two hundred years has a wicked enchanter kept me here .
If Out at for in of over that upon without