` By repeating what I learnt from your brother Bryak on the edge of the forest , ' replied the idiot . ' I just said -- Colt , free to run and free to eat , Colt , gallop fast until we meet , and it came directly . ' ` You know my brother , then ? ' inquired the giant . ` Tell me why he sent you here . ' ` To bring you two gifts which he has just received from the country of the Moors , ' answered Peronnik : ` the apple of delight and the woman of submission . If you eat the apple you will not desire anything else , and if you take the woman as your servant you will never wish for another . ' ` Well , give me the apple , and bid the woman get down , ' answered Rogear . The idiot obeyed , but at the first taste of the apple the giant staggered , and as the long yellow finger of the woman touched him he fell dead . Leaving the magician where he lay , Peronnik entered the palace , bearing with him the flower that laughs . Fifty doors flew open before him , and at length he reached a long flight of steps which seemed to lead into the bowels of the earth . Down these he went till he came to a silver door without a bar or key . Then he held up high the flower that laughs , and the door slowly swung back , displaying a deep cavern , which was as bright as the day from the shining of the golden bowl and the diamond lance . The idiot hastily ran forward and hung the bowl round his neck from the chain which was attached to it , and took the lance in his hand . As he did so , the ground shook beneath him , and with an awful rumbling the palace disappeared , and Peronnik found himself standing close to the forest where he led the cattle to graze . Though darkness was coming on , Peronnik never thought of entering the farm , but followed the road which led to the court of the duke of Brittany . As he passed through the town of Vannes he stopped at a tailor 's shop , and bought a beautiful costume of brown velvet and a white horse , which he paid for with a handful of gold that he had picked up in the corridor of the castle of Kerglas . Thus he made his way to the city of Nantes , which at that moment was besieged by the French . A little way off , Peronnik stopped and looked about him . For miles round the country was bare , for the enemy had cut down every tree and burnt every blade of corn ; and , idiot though he might be , Peronnik was able to grasp that inside the gates men were dying of famine .
He was still gazing with horror , when a trumpeter appeared XXXXX the walls , and , after blowing a loud blast , announced that the duke would adopt as his heir the man who could drive the French out of the country .
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