“I should greatly like,” said Ulenspiegel, “that they should set great curtains on these walls, so as to assure my paintings against the insults of flies and against dust.”
“That shall be done,” said the landgrave.
The curtains being put in place, Ulenspiegel asked for three apprentices, as he said, to make them prepare his colours.
For thirty days, Ulenspiegel and the apprentices did nothing but hold feast and revel, sparing neither the choice viands nor the old wines. The landgrave watched over all.
However, on the thirty-first day he came and put in his nose at the door of the room which Ulenspiegel had enjoined on him not to enter.
“Well, Thyl, where are thy portraits?”
“Far away,” replied Ulenspiegel.
“Could not one see them?”
“Not yet.”
The thirty-sixth day, he put his nose in at the door again.