Page:Czech Folk Tales.pdf/67

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BOOTS, CLOAK, AND RING
47

him whether he had any knowledge of the castle in which his wife dwelt. The Sun answered: "I don't know. I never shone there. But go and ask the Moon."

The next day, as soon as he woke, he flew off on his cloak to the Moon's castle. When he got there, the Moon was not in, and John asked the housekeeper for a night's lodging. He said he would like to ask the Moon's advice.

The housekeeper said: "You must wait till the Moon comes home, but you will be very cold, for my mistress is an extremely cold person."

"I will crouch in a corner and wait till the mistress comes; in any case, my cloak is warm enough."

When the morning drew near, the Moon returned home, and John asked her whether she knew where his bride's castle was.

The Moon said: "I never shone there. But go to the Wind. He is a fellow who penetrates everywhere, and so he is likely to know where that castle is."

So John went to the Wind's house. The Wind was not in, but Melusine, his wife, was alone at home. John asked her to let