gallant knight with
anything but the princess's fair hand; and that they had wedding
festivities, and banquets, and bull fights, and tilting matches, and
all sorts of good things.

Some days after the marriage the Knight of the Fish said to his wife
that he would like to look over the palace, which was so extensive
that it covered a league of ground. They inspected the place together,
and the task occupied them four days. On the fourth day they ascended
the roof, and the knight was struck with amazement at the prospect.
Never had he seen anything like it, nor ever could he have seen its
equal, even if he had visited all Spain and the Empire of Morocco as
well.

"What castle is that?" inquired the Knight of the Fish, "which I see
standing in the distance, so solitary and sombre."

"That," responded the princess, "is the castle of Albastretch; it is
enchanted, and no one is able to undo the enchantment; and no one of
all those who have gone to it has ever been known to return."

The knight listened intently to this, and as he was valiant and
adventurous, on the following morning he mounted his horse, seized his
lance, and set out for the castle.

The castle was enough to set one's hair on end with fright to look at
it; it was darker than a thunder-cloud, and as silent as death. But
the Knight of the Fish knew nothing of fear, save by hearsay, and
never turned his back on foe until he had conquered; so he took his
cornet and blew it lustily. The sound startled all the slumbering
echoes of the castle, so that they repeated it by heart, now nearer
and now farther, sometimes softer and then louder; but no one stirred
in the castle.

"Ah! what a castle!" shouted the knight. "Is there no one to see to a
knight who craves shelter? Is there no governor, nor squire nor even a
groom, to take my horse away?"

"Away! away! away!" clamoured the echoes.

"Why should I go away?" said the Knight of the Fish. "I shall not go
back, no matter how much you sigh!"

"Ay! ay! ay! (_Alas! alas! alas!_)" groaned the echoes.

The knight grasped his spear and struck a loud blow on the door.

Then the portcullis was raised, and in the opening appeared the tip of
an enormous nose, located between the sunken eyes and fallen-in mouth
of an old woman uglier than sin.

"What do you want, impudent disturber?" she inquired, with a cracked
voice.

"To enter," replied the knight. "Are you not able to afford me the
enjoyment of some rest at