and you will feel as if you were in Paradise, I promise you. In
return, I only ask one thing of you, that you shall obey my
orders exactly.'

The charcoal-burner and his wife both stared at him for a moment,
as if they could hardly believe their ears; and, indeed, it was
not to be wondered at! Then they found their tongues, and
exclaimed together:

'Oh, yes, yes, my lord! we will do everything you tell us. How
could we be so ungrateful as to disobey you, when you are so
kind?'

The king smiled, and his eyes twinkled.

'Well, let us start at once,' said he. 'Lock your door, and put
the key in your pocket.'

The woman looked as if she thought this was needless, seeing it
was quite, quite certain they would never come back. But she
dared not say so, and did as the king told her.

After walking through the forest for a couple of miles, they all
three reached the palace, and by the king's orders servants led
the charcoal-burner and his wife into rooms filled with beautiful
things such as they had never even dreamed of. First they bathed
in green marble baths where the water looked like the sea, and
then they put on silken clothes that felt soft and pleasant. When
they were ready, one of the king's special servants entered, and
took them into a small hall, where dinner was laid, and this