The old hag answered him: "I am thy fortune." Hearing these words he beat his breast, crying: "What! thou art my fortune! May God exterminate thee! Who gave thee to me?" And the old hag said to him: "It was Destiny." "Where is Destiny?" "Go and seek for him," she answered, going to sleep again. Then he departed and went to seek for Destiny. After a long, long journey he arrived at last at another wood, and in this wood he found a hermit of whom he asked if he could not give him some news of Destiny? The hermit answered him: "Climb that mountain, and thou wilt arrive at his castle, but when thou reachest Destiny be careful not to speak to him. Do only what thou seest him do, until he speaks to thee." The traveller thanked the hermit, took his way up the mountain, and when he had arrived at the castle of Destiny what wonderful things he saw! The luxury was absolutely royal. There was a crowd of servants, always in motion and doing nothing. As for Destiny, he was supping at a magnificent table. When the stranger saw this he seated himself also at table and ate with the master of the house. After supper Destiny went to bed and the traveller did the same. Toward midnight terrible noise was heard in the castle, and in the midst of the noise a voice crying: "Destiny, Destiny--so many souls have come into the world to-day. Give them something at thy good pleasure." And Destiny arose, opened a golden coffer, and threw into the room a shower of shining ducats, saying: "Such as I am to-day, so shall you be all your lives." At daybreak the grand castle vanished, and there took its place an ordinary house, but one in which nothing was wanting. When evening came Destiny sat down to supper again, his guest did the same, and no one spoke a word. After supper both went to bed as before. Toward midnight again commenced the terrible noise in the castle, and in the midst of the tumult a voice crying: "Destiny, Destiny, so many souls have seen the light to-day. Give them something at thy good pleasure." Destiny arose and opened a silver coffer, but this time there were no ducats in it, only silver money mixed with a few pieces of gold. Destiny threw this silver upon the ground, saying: "Such as I am to-day, so shall you be all your lives." At daybreak the house had vanished, and there appeared in its place another smaller one. So passed each night; each morning the house became smaller until at last it was only a miserable hut. Destiny then took a spade and began to dig up the earth; his guest did the same, and they dug all day long. When evening came Destiny took a crust of hard bread, broke it in two, and gave half to his companion. This was all their supper, and when they had eaten they went to bed. Toward midnight again commenced the terrible noise, and in the midst of it a voice was heard, crying: "Destiny, Destiny, so many souls have come into the world this night. Give them something at thy good pleasure."