“And where is the hall,” he asked the Landgrave, “which I am to adorn with all these likenesses!”
“Follow me,” said the Landgrave. And he brought him to a large room with great bare walls.
“This is the hall,” he said.
“I should be very grateful,” said Ulenspiegel, “if some curtains could be hung right along the walls, so that my paintings may be protected from the flies and the dust.”
“Certainly,” said the Landgrave.
When the curtains had been hung as directed, Ulenspiegel asked if he might have three apprentices to help him with the mixing of his colours.
This was done, and for thirty days Ulenspiegel and the apprentices spent the whole of their time feasting and carousing together, with every extravagance of meat and drink. And the Landgrave looked on at it all. But at last on the thirty-first day he came and thrust his nose in at the door of the chamber where Ulenspiegel had begged him not to enter.
“Well, Tyl,” he said, “and where are the portraits?”
“They are not finished,” answered Ulenspiegel.
“When shall I be able to see them?”