And so time passed on until the six-months day had ended, the sun had sunk out of sight, and the twilight had deepened into gloom. Then suddenly bright lights were seen in all the windows of the King's palace, and there issued forth a number of men bearing lighted torches, which they applied hurriedly to the tops of the tubes that lined the roadway down into and along the principal streets of the town.
A steady light was given out by each of these gigantic candles, making the roadway and street light and cheery, while crowds of people came from all quarters to enjoy the novel spectacle.
Count Gofaster was the hero of the hour. Even the adherents of Snarlitz were silenced and forced to admit that the giant had conferred the third great benefit on the state. The King, in his own brilliantly lighted hall of audience, thanked him before the assembled nobles of the Court for the great service he had rendered.
"In due time," said the King, "every street in the town shall be lighted through this means, and if the six months of night be not bright as day, they will at least be rendered enjoyable."
It was now the opportunity of Gofaster to demand the fulfilment of the King's pledge in regard to the man who should confer three benefits on the state and obtain the favor of the Princess.
But Gofaster dared not speak. To his surprise and sorrow, he found that the manner of the Princess was not only less cordial, but shy and reserved, and that she seemed to avoid him. The young giant was not versed in the ways of womankind, and found discouragement in what should have given him hope. He had not studied the proverb, "Faint heart never won fair lady," and reflected much upon his former comparatively low condition, from which he had only been removed by the favor of the sovereign, and which did not seem to warrant a close alliance with the royal family. He became moody, and sank into a kind of hopeless gloom, under which his health suffered. His friend the Prime-minister saw this, but did not conjecture the cause; neither, apparently, did the King nor Princess.
Gofaster withdrew himself as much as possible from the royal presence, and seemed to have no friend to whom he was willing to confide his trouble. He even forgot the Phooka, but the latter did not forget him.
As Gofaster was seated in his apartments, ruminating upon his sad fate, he heard a hollow laugh near him, which he recognized as that of his invisible guardian.
"Clearly," said the goblin, "all human beings are fools, and Count Gofaster seems to be about the biggest fool of all."
The giant did not resent the reproach, for the gratitude toward his benefactor blunted the point of it, if it did not relieve the sting.