Then he cast another look over his shoulder at the young man behind.
"At any rate, for one night he can do no harm," he muttered.
"What didst thou say, father?" asked the stranger.
"I said that for one night thou couldst do no harm," replied the old man.
"On the contrary," said the stranger with a laugh, "in one night I hope to do more good to this house than thou hast done in all thy life."
"The young have ever a good conceit of themselves," said the porter. "Thou art not like to keep this gate, winter and summer, day and night, for close on three-score years, as I have done, young man."
"On the other hand," said the stranger, "thou art not like to marry the king's daughter within the year, and have the city hung with red instead of black in thine honour, as I am like to do."
"Sir," said the old man, "I know my place too well——"
"—and love thy life too much to aspire to the hand of the princess. Is that not so?"