declared he was powerless to help the princess but the king wouldn’t listen to him and threatened him with torture and death if he refused to make the effort.
“Well then,” the shoemaker said, after much thought, “chain the princess to her bed, order out all the attendants, and let me see her alone.”
The king had these conditions fulfilled and the shoemaker went boldly into the princess’s chamber.
“Hist! Devil!” he called softly.
Instantly the devil jumped out of the princess’s mouth and when he saw the shoemaker he stamped his foot in anger.
“What!” he cried. “You’ve come after my warning! Don’t you remember what I told you?”
The shoemaker put his finger to his lips and winked.
“Softly, comrade,” he whispered, “softly! I’m not come to exorcise you but to warn you. You know that precious wife of yours, Gentle Dora? Well, she’s traced you here and she’s down in the courtyard now waiting for you.”
The devil turned white with fright.
“Gentle Dora!” he gasped. “Lucifer, help me!”
Without another word he jumped out the window and flew straight down to hell as fast as the wind could carry him. And so great is his fear of Gentle
