“But Emelian, where are we to live, for here I don’t see a hut or any kind of shelter?” But the fool said: “You are already hankering for something more.” “Do be so kind, Emelian, as to order some kind of house to be built,” said the princess, “in order that we may have some place to take shelter in when it rains;” for by this time the princess knew that he could do anything if he did but please. But the fool said: “I am lazy.” Whereupon she began to beseech him again, and Emelian, touched by her entreaties, was obliged to do what she desired; and going a little way apart from her, said: “At the pike’s behest, and at my request, may there be erected, in the midst of this island, a palace which shall be twice better than the king’s; and may there be from the palace a crystal bridge to cross the water by; and may there be in the palace all kinds of servants.” Scarcely had he pronounced these words when an enormous palace with a crystal bridge made its appearance. The fool and the princess, entering the palace, perceived that there was plenty of magnificent furniture in the rooms, and that there were numbers of people, both lackeys and officers, of various descriptions, who were awaiting the commands of the fool. The fool, seeing that all these people had a decent and honourable appearance, and that he alone was a lout, wished to be made better, and therefore said: “At the pike’s behest, and at my request, be I now made a youth so handsome as to have no equal, and possest of the very best of understandings.” These words were scarcely uttered when he became so handsome and intelligent that everybody wondered. After this, Emelian sent one of his servants to the king, to invite him and all his ministers to the palace. The messenger of Emelian rode to the king over that same crystal bridge which the fool had built. On his arrival at court the ministers presented him to the king, whom the messenger addressed in this manner: “Gracious sir, I am sent by my master with his humble compliments to invite you to dinner.” “Who is thy master?” demanded the king. But the messenger replied: “I cannot tell you, gracious sir, anything of my master” (for the fool had forbidden him to say who he was); “but after you have dined together he will give you a full account of himself.”