Meanwhile , the ambassador arrived at the Princess 's palace and delivered his little message , but whether she happened to be cross that day , or whether the compliment did not please her , is not known . She only answered that she was very much obliged to the King , but she had no wish to be married . The ambassador set off sadly on his homeward way , bringing all the King 's presents back with him , for the Princess was too well brought up to accept the pearls and diamonds when she would not accept the King , so she had only kept twenty-five English pins that he might not be vexed . When the ambassador reached the city , where the King was waiting impatiently , everybody was very much annoyed with him for not bringing the Princess , and the King cried like a baby , and nobody could console him . Now there was at the Court a young man , who was more clever and handsome than anyone else . He was called Charming , and everyone loved him , excepting a few envious people who were angry at his being the King 's favorite and knowing all the State secrets . He happened to one day be with some people who were speaking of the ambassador 's return and saying that his going to the Princess had not done much good , when Charming said rashly : `` If the King had sent me to the Princess Goldilocks I am sure she would have come back with me . '' His enemies at once went to the King and said : `` You will hardly believe , sire , what Charming has the audacity to say -- that if he had been sent to the Princess Goldilocks she would certainly have come back with him . He seems to think that he is so much handsomer than you that the Princess would have fallen in love with him and followed him willingly . '' The King was very angry when he heard this . `` Ha , ha ! '' said he ; `` does he laugh at my unhappiness , and think himself more fascinating than I am ? Go , and let him be shut up in my great tower to die of hunger . '' So the King 's guards went to fetch Charming , who had thought no more of his rash speech , and carried him off to prison with great cruelty . The poor prisoner had only a little straw for his bed , and but for a little stream of water which flowed through the tower he would have died of thirst . One day when he was in despair he said to himself : `` How can I have offended the King ? I am his most faithful subject , and have done nothing against him . '' The King chanced to be passing the tower and recognized the voice of his former favorite . He stopped to listen in spite of Charming 's enemies , who tried to persuade him to have nothing more to do with the traitor . But the King said : `` Be quiet , I wish to hear what he says . ''
And then he opened the tower door and called to Charming , who came very sadly and kissed the King 's hand , saying : `` What have I done , sire , XXXXX deserve this cruel treatment ? ''
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