“The king's son did not even dare to begin, for it would have been in vain anyway. Even with a thousand helpers he could not have sorted the grain out even in a week - let aside in such a short time.
So he sat down in a corner, put his head in his hands and pondered.

“And as he pondered, a wild dove flew through the window.
“Why are you so distressed, revered prince?”
“How could I not be distressed: the king has ordered me to sort out all the grain, and if I Don't do it I will be shown in a cage to all the world as liar and swindler.”

“No reason to be sad indeed; if this is all,” replied the dove.
“Don't you recognize me? I am the king of the wild doves; and as a little boy you had mercy on me; therefore I will now reward you for your goodness.”

“With these words the king of the wild doves flew away again. After a short time he returned with a great host of doves, and immediately they alighted on the corn.

“The king was not through with his mental exercises yet when they had sorted it all out, and not one corn of wheat remained in the millet, nor was there any millet left in the wheat.
So the king of the wild doves said good-bye and they flew away as they had come.

“When the king had finished his morning-exercises, he first of all went with his ministers to the king's son and asked him, how far he was with the wheat - and if he could sort it out or not.
Many of them stood there with wide opened mouths when they saw the beautiful pure wheat separated on one heap, the millet on a second and the chaff on yet another heap.

“The king praised the prince and immediately appointed him steward.
The two travel-companions of the king's son were satisfied and happy because their friend had become steward - although they remained coachmen and saw him even less.

“And again they began to think and they went before the king.
“Royal Highness, this our companion, the new steward, has told us this time that if Your Majesty would entrust him with all treasures to guard them, he would know how to watch them so well that not a single pin would disappear under his hands. If Your Majesty put him to the test and threw the ring of the king's daughter into the well before you started your mental exercises, he would know how to fetch it before you had finished your exercises.”

“And again the king summoned the prince.
“Now my son, I understand you want to be treasurer because you are able to guard the treasures perfectly.
Therefore I will order the ring of my daughter to be thrown into the fountain before I start my mental exercises.

“But if you do not fetch it before I have finished my exercises, I will let you lock up into a cage and show you to the people as a liar and boaster.”
And again all assertions were of no use; the king did not heed them but let indeed, before he started his mental exercises, the golden ring of the princess be thrown into the well.