there was once upon a time a king who had twelve daughters, each one more beautiful than the other. they all slept together in one chamber, in which their beds stood side by side, and every night when they were in them the king locked the door, and bolted it. but in the morning when he unlocked the door, he saw that their shoes were worn out with dancing, and no one could find out how that had come to pass. then the king caused it to be proclaimed that whosoever could discover where they danced at night, should choose one of them for his wife and be king after his death, but that whosoever came forward and had not discovered it within three days and nights, should have forfeited his life. it was not long before a king’s son presented himself, and offered to undertake the enterprise. he was well received, and in the evening was led into a room adjoining the princesses’ sleeping-chamber.