right. One day he came to a town, and from a distance saw a great crowd of people. He came nearer, pressed into the middle of the crowd, and there saw a very old man with a little carriage.
"What is this?" asked the prince of one of the bystanders.
"Why, this old man wants to sell his little carriage," answered the man; "but he asks such an enormous sum for it—a thousand gold pieces."
"And some of you would perhaps buy it!" said the prince aloud. "Oh, foolish people! Would you give a thousand gold pieces for this miserable carriage? Are you not afraid that the whole world would laugh at you? You are as ridiculous as this old man."
When the prince said this, those who were present grew ashamed of themselves, and one by one went away. At last the prince remained alone with the old man.
"I pray you," said the prince to the old man in a whisper, "tell me, what is there remarkable in this little carriage?"
"Indeed, sir, it is a very wonderful carriage," answered the old man mysteriously. "Whoever sits in it will find himself immediately carried into that place to which he way wish to go."
"A miraculous carriage!" exclaimed the prince. "Here are your thousand gold pieces for it."
