“Aye,” said the fool, “but I am lazy.”
Thereupon the envoy began to beseech him once more.
“Pray let us go, Emelian, the king has ordered a red caftan to be made for you, and also a red cap, and red boots.”
The fool, hearing that a red caftan had been ordered to be made for him, provided he went, said: “Do you go before, and I will follow.”
The envoy, not wishing to trouble him any more, left him, and asked privately of the sisters-in-law whether the fool would not deceive him; but they assured him that he never deceived anybody. The envoy then set forth on his return, and the fool, placing himself once more on the petsch, said:
“O how I wish that I had not to go to court, but was there already.”
Thereupon he said:
“At the pike’s behest, and at my request, move straight, O petsch, to the city.”
Thereupon the walls of the room gave a crack, and the petsch sallied forth, and when the petsch was clear of the house it drove along with such rapidity that it was impossible to
overtake it. On the road it overtook the envoy, and drove in his company to the court. The king, being told that the fool had arrived, went out to look at him, with all his ministers, and seeing that Emelian came on the petsch, he was filled with wonder. As for the fool, he lay still, and said nothing. After a little time the king asked him why he had run over so many people when he went to the forest for wood.