then the little prince thought, "these must be my parents and my uncles. i have found what i seek at last." so he told his story to the malee's wife, and begged her to help him to remain in that place awhile and inquire further concerning the unhappy people she mentioned; and she promised to befriend him, and advised his disguising himself lest the magician should see him, and turn him likewise into stone. to this the prince agreed. so the malee's wife dressed him up in a saree, and pretended that he was her daughter.