Some food and milk were set before him in the garden , and when he felt rested he got up , and began to explore the house , which was famous throughout the whole kingdom for its age and beauty . He opened one door after the other , admiring the old rooms , when he came to a handle that would not turn . He stooped and peeped through the keyhole to see what was inside , and was greatly astonished at beholding a beautiful girl , clad in a dress so dazzling that he could hardly look at it . The dark gallery seemed darker than ever as he turned away , but he went back to the kitchen and inquired who slept in the room at the end of the passage . The scullery maid , they told him , whom everybody laughed at , and called ` Donkey Skin ; ' and though he perceived there was some strange mystery about this , he saw quite clearly there was nothing to be gained by asking any more questions . So he rode back to the palace , his head filled with the vision he had seen through the keyhole . All night long he tossed about , and awoke the next morning in a high fever . The queen , who had no other child , and lived in a state of perpetual anxiety about this one , at once gave him up for lost , and indeed his sudden illness puzzled the greatest doctors , who tried the usual remedies in vain . At last they told the queen that some secret sorrow must be at the bottom of all this , and she threw herself on her knees beside her son 's bed , and implored him to confide his trouble to her . If it was ambition to be king , his father would gladly resign the cares of the crown , and suffer him to reign in his stead ; or , if it was love , everything should be sacrificed to get for him the wife he desired , even if she were daughter of a king with whom the country was at war at present ! ` Madam , ' replied the prince , whose weakness would hardly allow him to speak , ` do not think me so unnatural as to wish to deprive my father of his crown . As long as he lives I shall remain the most faithful of his subjects ! And as to the princesses you speak of , I have seen none that I should care for as a wife , though I would always obey your wishes , whatever it might cost me . ' ` Ah ! my son , ' cried she , ` we will do anything in the world to save your life -- and ours too , for if you die , we shall die also . ' ` Well , then , ' replied the prince , ' I will tell you the only thing that will cure me -- a cake made by the hand of `` Donkey Skin . '' ' ` Donkey Skin ? ' exclaimed the queen , who thought her son had gone mad ; ` and who or what is that ? ' ` Madam , ' answered one of the attendants present , who had been with the prince at the farm , ' `` Donkey Skin '' is , next to the wolf , the most disgusting creature on the face of the earth . She is a girl who wears a black , greasy skin , and lives at your farmer 's as hen-wife . '
` Never mind , ' said the queen ; ` my son seems XXXXX have eaten some of her pastry .
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