` 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 on 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 . On the four sides of the city the trumpeter blew his blast , and the last time Peronnik , who had ridden up as close as he might , answered him . ` You need blow no more , ' said he , ` for I myself will free the town from her enemies . ' And turning to a soldier who came running up , waving his sword , he touched him with the magic lance , and he fell dead on the spot . The men who were following stood still , amazed . Their comrade 's armour had not been pierced , of that they were sure , yet he was dead , as if he had been struck to the heart . But before they had time to recover from their astonishment , Peronnik cried out : ` You see how my foes will fare ; now behold what I can do for my friends , ' and , stooping down , he laid the golden bowl against the mouth of the soldier , who sat up as well as ever .
Then , jumping his horse across the trench , he entered the gate of the city , which had opened wide enough XXXXX receive him .
On at before beneath for of that though through to