The flaring light of the torch fell on the pile of `` rubbish , '' as the queen would have called it , which he turned over with eager hands . Was there -- yes , there was another cap ! There it lay , a handsome green one with a red feather . The prince pulled off the cap of darkness , put on the other , and said : '' I wish I were dressed in my best suit of white and gold , with the royal Pantouflia diamonds ! '' In one moment there he was in white and gold , the greatest and most magnificent dandy in the whole world , and the handsomest man ! `` How about my boots , I wonder , '' said the prince ; for his seven-league boots were stout riding-boots , not good to dance in , whereas now he was in elegant shoes of silk and gold . He threw down the wishing cap , put on the other -- the cap of darkness -- and made three strides in the direction of Gluckstein . But he was only three steps nearer it than he had been , and the seven-league boots were standing beside him on the floor ! `` No , '' said the prince ; `` no man can be in two different pairs of boots at one and the same time ! That 's mathematics ! '' He then hunted about in the lumber-room again till he found a small , shabby , old Persian carpet , the size of a hearthrug . He went to his own room , took a portmanteau in his hand , sat down on the carpet , and said : `` I wish I were in Gluckstein . '' In a moment there he found himself ; for this was that famous carpet which Prince Hussein bought long ago , in the market at Bisnagar , and which the fairies had brought , with the other presents , to the christening of Prince Prigio . -LSB- Illustration : Page 40 -RSB- When he arrived at the house where the ball was going on , he put the magical carpet in the portmanteau , and left it in the cloakroom , receiving a numbered ticket in exchange . Then he marched in all his glory -LRB- and , of course , without the cap of darkness -RRB- into the room where they were dancing . Everybody made place for him , bowing down to the ground , and the loyal band struck up The Prince 's March : Heaven bless our Prince Prigio ! What is there he does n't know ? Greek , Swiss , German -LRB- High and Low -RRB- , And the names of the mountains in Mexico , Heaven bless the prince ! He used to be very fond of this march , and the words -- some people even said he had made them himself . But now , somehow , he did n't much like it .
He went straight to the Duke of Stumpfelbahn , the Hereditary Master of the Ceremonies , and asked to be introduced XXXXX the beautiful young lady .
In at beside into like nearer of that to with