But the page turned his head aside , and would not even condescend to answer . The page rode like the wind , and as soon as he arrived at the palace he snatched up a silver tray and hastened to present the cake to the prince . The sick man began to eat it so fast that the doctors thought he would choke ; and , indeed , he very nearly did , for the ring was in one of the bits which he broke off , though he managed to extract it from his mouth without anyone seeing him . The moment the prince was left alone he drew the ring from under his pillow and kissed it a thousand times . Then he set his mind to find how he was to see the owner -- for even he did not dare to confess that he had only beheld ` Donkey Skin ' through a keyhole , lest they should laugh at this sudden passion . All this worry brought back the fever , which the arrival of the cake had diminished for the time ; and the doctors , not knowing what else to say , informed the queen that her son was simply dying of love . The queen , stricken with horror , rushed into the king 's presence with the news , and together they hastened to their son 's bedside . ` My boy , my dear boy ! ' cried the king , ` who is it you want to marry ? We will give her to you for a bride , even if she is the humblest of our slaves . What is there in the whole world that we would not do for you ? ' The prince , moved to tears at these words , drew the ring , which was an emerald of the purest water , from under his pillow . ` Ah , dear father and mother , let this be a proof that she whom I love is no peasant girl . The finger which that ring fits has never been thickened by hard work . But be her condition what it may , I will marry no other . ' The king and queen examined the tiny ring very closely , and agreed , with their son , that the wearer could be no mere farm girl . Then the king went out and ordered heralds and trumpeters to go through the town , summoning every maiden to the palace . And she whom the ring fitted would some day be queen . First came all the princesses , then all the duchesses ' daughters , and so on , in proper order . But not one of them could slip the ring over the tip of her finger , to the great joy of the prince , whom excitement was fast curing .
At last , when the high-born damsels had failed , the shopgirls and chambermaids took their turn ; but XXXXX no better fortune .
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