` It is , ' said Sir Red , ` the most beautiful coverlet that any mortal ever heard tell of . It also has the property that , when anyone touches it , it sounds so that it can be heard over eight kingdoms . ' ` That must be a splendid coverlet , ' said the king , and he at once sent for the brothers . ` You have said that you know of a coverlet , the most beautiful in the whole world , and which sounds over eight kingdoms when anyone touches it . You shall procure it for me , or else lose your lives , ' said he . The brothers answered him that they had never said a word about such a coverlet , did not believe it existed , and that it was quite impossible for them to procure it . But the king would not hear a word ; he drove them away , telling them that if they did not get it very soon it would cost them their heads . Things looked very black again for the brothers , for they were sure there was no escape for them . The youngest of them , indeed , asked where Esben was , but the others said that that little fool could scarcely keep himself in clothes , and it was not to be expected that he could help them . Not one of them thought it worth while to look for Esben , but he soon came along of himself . ` Well , what 's the matter now ? ' said he . ` Oh , what 's the use of telling you ? ' said the brothers . ` You ca n't help us , at any rate . ' ` Ah ! who knows that ? ' said Esben . ' I have helped you before . ' In the end the brothers told him about the coverlet which , when one touched it , sounded so that it could be heard over eight kingdoms .
Esben thought XXXXX this was the worst errand that he had had yet , but he could not do worse than fail , and so he would make the attempt .
Esben about at escape for in of over that to