The unknown knight then saluted her gracefully and retired , without telling his name to anybody . But Graciosa had no difficulty in guessing that it was Percinet . As to the Queen , she was so furiously angry that she could hardly speak ; but she soon recovered her voice , and overwhelmed Graciosa with a torrent of reproaches . ` What ! ' she said , ` do you dare to dispute with me for the prize of beauty , and expect me to endure this insult to my knights ? But I will not bear it , proud Princess . I will have my revenge . ' ' I assure you , Madam , ' said the Princess , ` that I had nothing to do with it and am quite willing that you shall be declared Queen of Beauty ` Ah ! you are pleased to jest , popinjay ! ' said the Queen , ` but it will be my turn soon ! ' The King was speedily told what had happened , and how the Princess was in terror of the angry Queen , but he only said : ` The Queen must do as she pleases . Graciosa belongs to her ! ' The wicked Queen waited impatiently until night fell , and then she ordered her carriage to be brought . Graciosa , much against her will , was forced into it , and away they drove , and never stopped until they reached a great forest , a hundred leagues from the palace . This forest was so gloomy , and so full of lions , tigers , bears and wolves , that nobody dared pass through it even by daylight , and here they set down the unhappy Princess in the middle of the black night , and left her in spite of all her tears and entreaties . The Princess stood quite still at first from sheer bewilderment , but when the last sound of the retreating carriages died away in the distance she began to run aimlessly hither and thither , sometimes knocking herself against a tree , sometimes tripping over a stone , fearing every minute that she would be eaten up by the lions . Presently she was too tired to advance another step , so she threw herself down upon the ground and cried miserably : ` Oh , Percinet ! where are you ? Have you forgotten me altogether ? ' She had hardly spoken when all the forest was lighted up with a sudden glow .
Every tree seemed to be sending out a soft radiance , which was clearer than moonlight and softer than daylight , and at the end of a long avenue of trees opposite XXXXX her the Princess saw a palace of clear crystal which blazed like the sun .
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