There he knocked, and asked for a piece of bread.

The good-natured cook brought him in, and gave him an excellent breakfast, which the prince found nothing the worse for being served in the kitchen.

While he ate, he talked with his entertainer, and learned that this was the favourite retreat of the Princess Daylight.

But he learned nothing more, both because he was afraid of seeming inquisitive, and because the cook did not choose to be heard talking about her mistress to a peasant lad who had begged for his breakfast.
As he rose to take his leave, it occurred to him that he might not be so far from the old woman's cottage as he had thought, and he asked the cook whether she knew anything of such a place, describing it as well as he could.

She said she knew it well enough, adding with a smile-- "It's there you're going, is it ?" "Yes, if it's not far off." "It's not more than three miles.