The first thing to be done was to conceal the hole which had been cut , and when this was managed -LRB- with the help of the angry fairy , though they did not know it -RRB- , Cerisette hastened to take off her own clothes , and put on those of the princess , placing the crown of diamonds on her head . She found this heavier than she expected ; but then , she had never been accustomed to wear crowns , which makes all the difference . At the gates of the city the carriage was stopped by a guard of honour sent by the king as an escort to his son 's bride . Though Cerisette and her mother could of course see nothing of what was going on outside , they heard plainly the shouts of welcome from the crowds along the streets . The carriage stopped at length in the vast hall which Becasigue had prepared for the reception of the princess . The grand chamberlain and the lord high steward were awaiting her , and when the false bride stepped into the brilliantly lighted room , they bowed low , and said they had orders to inform his highness the moment she arrived . The prince , whom the strict etiquette of the court had prevented from being present in the underground hall , was burning with impatience in his own apartments . ` So she had come ! ' cried he , throwing down the bow he had been pretending to mend . ` Well , was I not right ? Is she not a miracle of beauty and grace ? And has she her equal in the whole world ? ' The ministers looked at each other , and made no reply ; till at length the chamberlain , who was the bolder of the two , observed : ` My lord , as to her beauty , you can judge of that for yourself . No doubt it is as great as you say ; but at present it seems to have suffered , as is natural , from the fatigues of the journey . ' This was certainly not what the prince had expected to hear . Could the portrait have flattered her ? He had known of such things before , and a cold shiver ran through him ; but with an effort he kept silent from further questioning , and only said : ` Has the king been told that the princess is in the palace ? ' ` Yes , highness ; and he has probably already joined her . ' ` Then I will go too , ' said the prince . Weak as he was from his long illness , the prince descended the staircase , supported by the ministers , and entered the room just in time to hear his father 's loud cry of astonishment and disgust at the sight of Cerisette .
` There was been treachery at work , ' he exclaimed , while the prince leant , dumb XXXXX horror , against the doorpost .
So Though as at by from into on through with