Strange though the lands had been across which Prince Radiance had journeyed since he left his father’s kingdom, the one through which the flame now led him was the strangest of all. At one time he thought himself to be approaching a great palace, not brilliant and glittering like the Palace of Burning Coals, but looming dark and forbidding before his eyes. He wondered what manner of danger might await him there; yet when at last he stood before it, it dissolved from before his sight as though it had never been. And beyond him, hastening toward a gloomy forest the flame of his Princess still seemed to lead on. He reached the forest, and it, too, vanished into thin air, while before him the pale flame steadily pursued its way. A great black cave became visible in the distance. Soon the flame reached it and disappeared into its mouth, yet when the Prince arrived, no cave was there, and flitting on in silence went the unresting flame. Thus he was deceived again and again, for whatever he saw was found to be naught as soon as he reached it. “Saw I never so curious a land!” murmured the Prince. “Surely but a moment since I seemed to see a strange grey woman close by my side; yet now she is gone.” He turned to assure himself of it, and as he did so, a faint laugh echoed through the air. “Ah! I was not mistaken after all,” he whispered. “Someone laughed!” Again, yet farther off, he heard the same echoing laugh, but though he looked sharply in the direction from whence it came, he still saw nothing. Paying no further heed to it Prince Radiance traveled onward with greater speed. Now at last he found that he was truly overtaking the flame. At times it stood still, then went slowly on, but finally, as if it meant to go no further it burned steadily in one spot. “She waits!” exclaimed Radiance. “My Princess waits!” He ran to her, his heart filled with dread lest she should again take flight. He reached her, and opened his box in haste. He took the magic Veil from its shelter, and shook its transparent folds over the waiting flame. Instantly the flame vanished, and Radiance watched with eager eyes for the appearance of his Princess in her true form. But moment followed moment, the Veil drooped limp from his hand, and though the flame was gone, the Princess did not become visible. Perceiving that he had been deceived once more, Prince Radiance cried aloud in his grief, “Alas! This also is nothing! I have followed a false flame!” Overcome with pain and discouragement, he dropped the Veil unheeded to the ground, and buried his face in his hands.