‘Thank you, watchmaker. Well, sit you down since you have come, and take a bite.’
‘Well, all right, you rogue.’
He only was speaking.[20] Then he tarried no longer, but came out and said, ‘Good-night, rogue.’
‘Farewell, watchmaker.’
Next evening the emperor summoned him, to kill him. But the lad said, ‘Let me go one more night.’ Then the lad went again, and said, ‘Good-evening, rogue.’
‘Welcome, watchmaker. And since you have come, brother, pray sit down to table.’
Only he spoke, so at last he said, ‘Good-night, rogue.’ [[56]]
‘Farewell, watchmaker.’
Next night the emperor summoned him. ‘I must kill you now, for you have reached your allotted term.’
Then said the lad, ‘Do you know, emperor, that there is thrice forgiveness for a man?’