Then the Prince went to bed, and, finding his wife asleep, awoke her
saying--

"Guess, my wife, what hour it is.''

"I have not heard the clock strike since I went to bed," she replied.

"It is three hours after midnight," said he.

"If that be so," said his wife, "where have you been all this time? I
greatly fear that your health will be the worse for it."

"Sweetheart," said the Prince, "watching will never make me ill when
I am engaged in preventing those who try to deceive me from going to
sleep."

So saying, he began to laugh so heartily that his wife begged him to
tell her of the matter. This he did at length, showing her the wolf's
skin (4) which his servant had brought him. After making merry at
the expense of the hapless lovers, they went to sleep in gentle
tranquillity, while the other two passed the night in torment, fearing
and dreading lest the affair should be revealed.

However, the gentleman, knowing right well that he could not use
concealment with the Prince, came to him in the morning when he was
dressing to beg that he would not expose him, and would give orders for
the return of his cloak.

The Prince pretended that he knew nothing of the matter, and put such a
face on it that the gentleman was wholly at a loss what to think. But