DANISH FAIRY AND FOLK TALES
however, and very soon the young man had explained all. He was very hungry, he said, and when he had eaten a little he would hide himself again. The next day she was to ask the king to remove the stag, and when this was done he would come out from his hiding-place and tell her father that money had opened her door for him in spite of the locks and bolts
The king thought, in the mean time, that it would be pleasant to hear one more tune from the wonderful stag before retiring for the night. So he entered the tower, and as he walked on tiptoe in order to disturb no one, neither his daughter nor the soldier heard his steps. They heard his voice, however, when he came in and found how the soldier had managed to pass the bolted doors. "You shall pay for this!" cried he, furiously, and forgetting himself entirely, he drew his golden sword, intending to kill the bold intruder. The soldier said, quietly but firmly: "My dear king! Money opened the doors for me in spite of your decrees. Keep your word, and give me your daughter's hand in marriage!" His majesty was obliged, of course, to do this, so the soldier married the princess, and needed no more to stand sentry or write on the house-wall.
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