'I am going to the Serpent King.'

And the whale begged: 'Think of me and say to the king: "The
poor whale has been lying three years across the strait, and men
and horses have nearly trampled his back into his ribs. Is he to
lie there much longer?" '

'I will remember,' said Vassili, and he went on.

He walked, and walked, and walked, till he came to a great green
meadow. In the meadow stood a large and splendid castle. Its
white marble walls sparkled in the light, the roof was covered
with mother o' pearl, which shone like a rainbow, and the sun
glowed like fire on the crystal windows. Vassili walked in, and
went from one room to another astonished at all the splendour he
saw.

When he reached the last room of all, he found a beautiful girl
sitting on a bed.

As soon as she saw him she said: 'Oh, Vassili, what brings you
to this accursed place?'

Vassili told her why he had come, and all he had seen and heard
on the way.

The girl said: 'You have not been sent here to collect rents,
but for your own destruction, and that the serpent may devour
you.'