"What sort of advice is this, Pepper?" said the King. "Shall we try elsewhere?"
The nag whinnied with unusual vehemence, and the King, taking this for yea, and not observing that she limped as she went, rode on to the Doves: the gentle gray-gowned Brothers who spent their days in pious works and their nights in meditation. Between the twelve hours of twilight and dawn they were pledged not to utter speech, but the King arriving there at noon they welcomed him with kind words, and offered him a bowl of rice and milk.
He thanked them, and when he had eaten and drink put to them his riddle.
"What should a King do in a Barn?"
They answered, "He should pray in it."
"This may be good advice," said the King. "Pepper, should we go further?"
The little nag whinnied till her sides shook, which the King took, as before, to be an affirmative. However, because it was Sunday he remained with the Doves a day and a night, and during such time as their lips were not sealed they urged him to become one of them, and found a new settlement of Brothers in his Barn. He spent his night in reflection, but by morning had come to no decision.
"To what better use could you dedicate it?" asked the Chief Brother, who was known as the Ringdove because he was the leader.
"None that I can think of," said the King, "but I fear I am not good enough."
"When you have passed our initiation," said the Ringdove, "you will be."