[Illustration: "THE OWNER OF THE CASTLE THREW HIM TWO LITTLE LENTIL-GRAINS."]
"Ah! my brother has sent you to me! And what does he wish from me?"
"He wishes you to send him two snails for his supper."
"Here they are, but now leave me in peace!" a woman called out, ungraciously, from the window, at the same time throwing him the two snails he desired.
Now the youth returned with the things he had collected to the Magician, and said: "Here I bring you what you wished for."
Then the Magician gave him all the necessary instructions as to the use of the three things. But when the youth turned his back to go away, the captive cried, imploringly, "And you are going to leave me lying here?"
"It would be no more than you deserve. However, I will release you. But woe betide you if you have deceived me again."
After the youth had released the Magician from his chains, he hurried away to appear before the Princess.
Opening her mouth, he put in it the little piece of red stuff which he had brought with him, and she at once had a tongue.
But the first words which came from her mouth were: "Miserable cobbler! Out of my sight! Begone!"
The poor youth was motionless with painful amazement, and said to himself: "This is once more the work of the faithless Magician."
But he would not let this bitter ingratitude prevent him from completing the good work. Then, taking the two little lentil-grains, he put them into the blind pupils of the girl's eyes, and at once she was able to see as before. But no sooner had she turned her eyes upon him than she covered her face with her hands and cried, scornfully, "Oh, how ugly mankind is! How horribly ugly!"
The poor youth's courage nearly vanished, and again he said to himself, "The worthless Magician has done this for me!"
But he would not allow himself to be put out. Taking the empty snail-shells from his pocket, he put them very skilfully where the girl's ears had once been, and behold! the Princess had back again her sweet little ears.
Then the youth turned to the King and said, "Your Majesty, now I am your son-in-law!"
But when the Princess heard these words she began to weep like a spoilt child, sobbing, "He called me a witch! He said I was an old witch!"
