By the time I had finished night had fallen, and the ladies lighted up
the castle with such a prodigious quantity of tapers that even day
could hardly have been brighter. We then sat down to a supper of dried
fruits and sweetmeats, after which some sang and others danced. I was
so well amused that I did not notice how the time was passing, but at
length one of the ladies approached and informed me it was midnight,
and that, as I must be tired, she would conduct me to the room that had
been prepared for me. Then, bidding me good-night, I was left to sleep.
I spent the next thirty-nine days in much the same way as the first,
but at the close of that time the ladies appeared (as was their custom)
in my room one morning to inquire how I had slept, and instead of
looking cheerful and smiling they were in floods of tears. "Prince,"
said they, "we must leave you, and never was it so hard to part from
any of our friends. Most likely we shall never see you again, but if
you have sufficient self-command perhaps we may yet look forward to a
meeting."
"Ladies," I replied, "what is the meaning of these strange words--I
pray you to tell me?"
"Know then," answered one of them, "that we are all princesses--each a
king's daughter. We live in this castle together, in the way that you
have seen, but at the end of every year secret duties call us away for
the space of forty days. The time has now come; but before we depart,
we will leave you our keys, so that you may not lack entertainment
during our absence. But one thing we would ask of you. The Golden
Door, alone, forbear to open, as you value your own peace, and the
happiness of your life. That door once unlocked, we must bid you
farewell for ever."