The Queen and the Princess were just ready to set out with the King when they saw , advancing toward them from the end of the long gallery , two great basilisks , dragging after them a very badly made box ; behind them came a tall old woman , whose ugliness was even more surprising than her extreme old age . She wore a ruff of black taffeta , a red velvet hood , and a farthingale all in rags , and she leaned heavily upon a crutch . This strange old woman , without saying a single word , hobbled three times round the gallery , followed by the basilisks , then stopping in the middle , and brandishing her crutch threateningly , she cried : `` Ho , ho , Queen ! Ho , ho , Princess ! Do you think you are going to break with impunity the promise that you made to my friend the Yellow Dwarf ? I am the Fairy of the Desert ; without the Yellow Dwarf and his orange tree my great lions would soon have eaten you up , I can tell you , and in Fairyland we do not suffer ourselves to be insulted like this . Make up your minds at once what you will do , for I vow that you shall marry the Yellow Dwarf . If you do n't , may I burn my crutch ! '' `` Ah ! Princess , '' said the Queen , weeping , `` what is this that I hear ? What have you promised ? '' `` Ah ! my mother , '' replied Bellissima sadly , `` what did you promise , yourself ? '' The King of the Gold Mines , indignant at being kept from his happiness by this wicked old woman , went up to her , and threatening her with his sword , said : `` Get away out of my country at once , and for ever , miserable creature , lest I take your life , and so rid myself of your malice . '' He had hardly spoken these words when the lid of the box fell back on the floor with a terrible noise , and to their horror out sprang the Yellow Dwarf , mounted upon a great Spanish cat . `` Rash youth ! '' he cried , rushing between the Fairy of the Desert and the King . `` Dare to lay a finger upon this illustrious Fairy ! Your quarrel is with me only . I am your enemy and your rival .
That faithless Princess who would have married you is promised XXXXX me .
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