going to call his horse, and asking him to help him and dress him up before he went to the feast; but there had been no time for that, so he was obliged to appear in an ordinary dress. Yet he looked wonderfully handsome all the same.
"Why is your finger tied up?" asked the princess, stopping before him. "Have you hurt it? Untie it; perhaps I may be able to cure it for you?"
After a great deal of hesitation he obeyed, and behold the diamond ring glittered on his finger. The whole palace was illuminated as if by magic.
The princess looked at him, and then taking him by the hand led him to the king, her father, and greatly to the astonishment of all present said,—
"Behold my bridegroom!"
Ivan was then made to tell his story, and how it was that he managed to reach the balcony and get the ring, when no one else could do so. After he had explained all, the king ordered him to be taken and dressed in rich and princely garments, and he was once more the handsome stranger who had stolen the ring. What a change, what a difference between his usual get-up and his present costume! Everybody stared at him in astonishment. He walked, and talked, and looked so noble, that no one would have believed that he was the same person whom people called Ivan the Stupid! In fact, all present were charmed with him.
As for his parents and brothers, they could not make out what it was all about, and wondered whether they were dreaming.
The marriage took place in a very short time. It
