"I am not permitted to say a word about that until after I have been there once more."
"Are you thinking of revisiting that accursed castle? You are the only one who has yet returned from it."
"It is unavoidable; I am obliged to go there."
When they retired to rest, the knight placed his sword in the bed.
"Why do you do that?" inquired the princess.
"Because I have sworn not to sleep in a bed until after I have revisited Albastretch."
And on the following day he mounted his steed and took his way to the enchanted castle, much fearing that some misfortune had happened to his brother there. He arrived at the castle, and quickly saw the old woman's fiery nose appear at the portcullis.
No sooner did she see the knight than she became livid with fright, for she thought he was the dead knight come to life again. She began to invoke the object of her devotions, Beelzebub, most devoutly, and promised him all kinds of gifts if he would take from her view that vision of flesh and blood, drawn up from the abode of the dead.
"Ancient lady!" cried the recent arrival, "I have come to ask where a knight is who has been here?"
"Here! here! here!" responded the echoes.