"I am going to see for myself," howled the giant. He entered the stable, grumbling, found everything in order, and came out furious.
"You have seen my Finette," he said; "this trick did not come from your own head."
"Oh, master," returned Yvon, opening his mouth and shutting his eyes, "it is the same story over again. What is this myfinette? Once for all, show me this monster."
"Hold your tongue, fool," returned the giant; "you will see her sooner than you will want to."
The third day at dawn the giant gathered his sheep together to lead them to the pasture; but, before setting out, he said to Yvon:
"To-day you must go to the bottomless pit to collect my rent. After that," continued he, bursting into a laugh, "you may rest all day long. You see that I am a good master."
"A good master, so be it," murmured Yvon, "but the task is none the less hard. I will go and see my Finette, as the giant says; I have great need of her help to get through to-day's business."
When Finette had learned what was the task of the day, "Well," said she, "how will you go to work to do it?"
"I don't know," said Yvon, sadly; "I have never been to the bottomless pit, and, even if I knew the way there, I should not know what to ask for. Tell me what to do."
"Do you see that great rock yonder?" said Finette; "that is one of the gates of the bottomless pit. Take this stick, knock three times on the stone, and a demon will come out all streaming with flames, who will ask you how much you want. Take care to answer, 'No more than I can carry.'"