"Well, to be sure, I am well off, I am! but may the Tatars catch me, if I would take my teeth in there!"
"Hm!—and why?"
"Why?" asked the beggar, considering; "I really can't tell you. But what should take me there? Besides—well, they say it is inhabited by demons, and that they live on Jews' flesh. The Jews are constantly going there, just as if they had been invited to dinner; but they get eaten up."
"Simple Stevie of Debreczin!"[4] cried the horseman. "Do you believe such nonsense?"
[4] "Simple Stevie" is said to have been a student in the college of Debreczin, where he was notorious for his simplicity.
The beggar grinned. "What would you have?" said he. "People say a great many things of all sorts, and a fellow like me just believes and blunders along with the rest! If His Grace in there does live on Jews' flesh, I wish him good health; but for my own part I had rather have a little bit of chicken than roast Jew."
"Now, boy, listen. Just look there," began the horseman again: "if you can get into that castle and bring me word again how the world wags there, you shall have a hundred gold ducats in your hand."
"A hundred ducats!" cried the beggar. "Why, I could buy a whole county with that, surely!"
"Not so much as that, little brother," said the rider; "but still it is a great deal of money!"
"And who will give it me?" asked the beggar, looking eagerly at the horseman.