WOODCUTTER (doubtfully). It would perhaps be not Quite fair to the others. BLUE PRINCE. Don't mind. WOODCUTTER. Well then, listen. (He pauses a moment and looks round to see that they are alone.) BLUE PRINCE. I'm listening. WOODCUTTER. If you come back in five minutes, you will see a beggar woman sitting here. She will ask you for a crust of bread. You must give it to her, for it is the way His Majesty has chosen of testing your kindness of heart. BLUE PRINCE (feeling in his pockets). No bread. WOODCUTTER. I will give you some. BLUE PRINCE. Do. WOODCUTTER (taking a piece from his pocket). Here you are. BLUE PRINCE. Thanks. WOODCUTTER. Not at all, I'm very glad to have been able to help you. (He goes on with his work. The BLUE PRINCE remains looking at him.) BLUE PRINCE (with a great effort). Thanks. (He goes slowly away. A moment later the YELLOW PRINCE makes a graceful and languid entry.) YELLOW PRINCE. Ah, come hither, my man, come hither. WOODCUTTER (stopping his work and looking up). You want me, sir? YELLOW PRINCE. Come hither, my man. Tell me, has her Royal Highness the Princess passed this way lately? WOODCUTTER. The Princess? YELLOW PRINCE. Yes, the Princess, my bumpkin. But perhaps you have been too much concerned in your own earthy affairs to have noticed her. You--ah--cut wood, I see. WOODCUTTER. Yes, sir, I am a woodcutter. YELLOW PRINCE. A most absorbing life. Some day we must have a long talk about it. But just now I have other business waiting for me. With your permission, good friend, I will leave you to your faggots. (He starts to go.) WOODCUTTER. Beg your pardon, sir, but are you one of those Princes that want to marry our Princess? YELLOW PRINCE. I had hoped, good friend, to obtain your permission to do so. I beg you not to refuse it. WOODCUTTER. You are making fun of me, sir. YELLOW PRINCE. Discerning creature. WOODCUTTER. All the same, I _can_ help you. YELLOW PRINCE. Then pray do so, log-chopper, and earn my everlasting gratitude. WOODCUTTER. The King has decided that whichever of you three Princes has the kindest heart shall marry his daughter. YELLOW PRINCE. Then you will be able to bear witness to him that I have already wasted several minutes of my valuable time in condescending to a mere faggot-splitter. Tell him this and the prize is mine. (Kissing the tips of his fingers) Princess, I embrace you. WOODCUTTER. The King will not listen to me. But if you return here in five minutes, you will find an old woman begging for bread. It is the test which their Majesties have arranged for you. If you share your last crust with her-- YELLOW PRINCE. Yes, but do I look as if I carried a last crust about with me? WOODCUTTER. But see, I will give you one. YELLOW PRINCE (taking it between the tips of his fingers). Yes, but-- WOODCUTTER. Put it in your pocket, and when--