He lost no time in opening it , but what was his horror when he found that it contained a man 's hand , which was holding a portrait . His first thought was to put back the terrible box and fly from the turret ; but a voice in his ear said , ` This hand belonged to one whom you can help and restore . Look at this beautiful portrait , the original of which was the cause of all my misfortunes , and if you wish to help me , go without a moment 's delay to the great gallery , notice where the sun 's rays fall most brightly , and if you seek there you will find my treasure . ' The voice ceased , and though the Prince in his bewilderment asked various questions , he received no answer . So he put back the box and locked the cabinet up again , and , having replaced the key in the crack in the wall , hastened down to the gallery . When he entered it all the windows shook and clattered in the strangest way , but the Prince did not heed them ; he was looking so carefully for the place where the sun shone most brightly , and it seemed to him that it was upon the portrait of a most splendidly handsome young man . He went up and examined it , and found that it rested against the ebony and gold panelling , just like any of the other pictures in the gallery . He was puzzled , not knowing what to do next , until it occurred to him to see if the windows would help him , and , looking at the nearest , he saw a picture of himself lifting the picture from the wall . The Prince took the hint , and lifting aside the picture without difficulty , found himself in a marble hall adorned with statues ; from this he passed on through numbers of splendid rooms , until at last he reached one all hung with blue gauze . The walls were of turquoises , and upon a low couch lay a lovely lady , who seemed to be asleep . Her hair , black as ebony , was spread across the pillows , making her face look ivory white , and the Prince noticed that she was unquiet ; and when he softly advanced , fearing to wake her , he could hear her sigh , and murmur to herself : ` Ah ! how dared you think to win my love by separating me from my beloved Florimond , and in my presence cutting off that dear hand that even you should have feared and honoured ? ' And then the tears rolled slowly down the lovely lady 's cheeks , and Prince Curlicue began to comprehend that she was under an enchantment , and that it was the hand of her lover that he had found . At this moment a huge Eagle flew into the room , holding in its talons a Golden Branch , upon which were growing what looked like clusters of cherries , only every cherry was a single glowing ruby . This he presented to the Prince , who guessed by this time that he was in some way to break the enchantment that surrounded the sleeping lady . Taking the branch he touched her lightly with it , saying : ` Fair one , I know not by what enchantment thou art bound , but in the name of thy beloved Florimond I conjure thee to come back to the life which thou hast lost , but not forgotten . ' Instantly the lady opened her lustrous eyes , and saw the Eagle hovering near . ` Ah ! stay , dear love , stay , ' she cried . But the Eagle , uttering a dolorous cry , fluttered his broad wings and disappeared .
Then the lady turned to Prince Curlicue , and said : ' I XXXXX that it is to you I owe my deliverance from an enchantment which has held me for two hundred years .
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