At last all the brownies were set to work under the direction of the little gray man. Some felled the great trees of the forest and trimmed them, some delved in the mines for marble and precious stones, and others forged the rare metals out of which the vast columns of the palace were to be made. Rapidly the new palace was built, and when it was finished it shone in the land like a rare jewel in the bosom of a beautiful woman. "Now, then," said the little gray man to the beautiful Mirza, "are you satisfied with my work, and do you repent having chosen me for your architect?" "Powerful and most generous King of the Brownies," she said to the little gray man, "how can I be dissatisfied at the sight of this rare palace, which you have built for me?" "This being so," said the little gray man, "what is to be my reward?" At this the young girl smiled, and a beautiful rose dropped from her lips. "This shall be your reward," said she, giving him the flower. "Thanks! thanks!" exclaimed the little gray man, and he instantly disappeared. The brownies were paid in the same way, and the young girl soon found herself alone with the old woman. One day passed, then two, then three, and still the prince did not come hunting. At this Mirza grew impatient, and she said to the old woman. "Go to the top of the hill and see if the prince is not coming." The old woman went to the top of the hill, and looked around on all sides, but there was nothing in sight. The roads on every side were dusty and deserted, and she returned to her mistress. "What did you see?" inquired the princess. "Nothing, your majesty, but the floating clouds and the beautiful flowers." "Go, then, and look again," said Mirza. The old woman looked again and then returned. "What have you seen?" inquired the princess. "The waters flowing, the grasses growing, and in the limbs of the trees I heard the breezes murmuring." "Return and look again." So the woman went, and when she had come back the princess said: "What have you seen?" "Away in the distance, on the dusty road, I saw horsemen coming." "It is the prince," said Mirza; and, sure enough, the prince, followed by his retainers, his huntsmen, and his dogs, soon made his appearance. Suddenly, the prince, seized with admiration, paused and looked around him. Here, where there had been only briars and brambles, there arose before his view the marvellous palace that had been erected by the little gray man. "To whom does this dazzling palace belong?" asked the prince, but no one could answer him. "Await me here," said the prince to his followers, "I will go and inquire, but I will return immediately."