'I will let you in, and take you to my father,' said the child; 'this is my birthday, and no one must go hungry to-day.'
But the demon pretended he was too weak to walk, and begged the boy to bring some food out to him.
Then the child ran back to the banquet hall in a great hurry and said to his father:
'O father, there is a poor pilgrim from Rome sitting outside our gate, and he is so hungry, may I take him some of my birthday feast?'
The father was very pleased to think that his little son should care for the poor and wish to be kind, so he willingly gave his permission and told one of the servants to give the child all that he wanted.
Then as the demon sat eating the good things, he began to question the boy and tried to find out all that he could about him.
'Do you often play in the garden?' he asked.
'Oh yes,' said the child, 'I play there whenever I may, for in the midst of the lawn there is a beautiful fountain, and the gardener makes me boats to sail on the water.'
'Will he make you one to-day?' asked the demon quickly.