Only three years ago, when your Majesty's father was alive, there was some talk of peace and of betrothing you to her, and that was when her portrait was sent here. But now the two kingdoms are at war and it does not seem that peace will ever come."
But though there was no hope of marrying her the King could not help but think of the Princess of the Golden Horde, and thought and thought till he became quite pale and sick with love for her. Now he had a faithful servant, the son of his own nurse, and thus his foster-brother, and he was so devoted to the King that everybody called him John the True.
When John the True saw his foster-brother pining away he went to him and said:
"What ails thee, Oh sire?" for he alone had the right of calling the King "thou."
Then said the King to John the True:
"Come and I will show thee, John." And he took him to the closed chamber and showed him the portrait and told him how he felt towards the Princess of the Golden Horde.
"Be of good cheer," said John the True; "I will go and fetch her for thee."
"How can that be?" said the King; "we are at war with the Golden Horde, and they would never give her to be my bride."
"Leave that to me," said John the True; "give me only a ship full of merchandise and put in it a
