the soldier returned to the town from which he had come. he went to the best inn, ordered himself handsome clothes, and then bade the landlord furnish him a room as handsomely as possible. when it was ready and the soldier had taken possession of it, he summoned the little black mannikin and said, "i have served the king faithfully, but he has dismissed me, and left me to hunger, and now i want to take my revenge." "what am i to do?" asked the little man. "late at night, when the king’s daughter is in bed, bring her here in her sleep, she shall do servant’s work for me." the mannikin said, "that is an easy thing for me to do, but a very dangerous thing for you, for if it is discovered, you will fare ill." when twelve o’clock had struck, the door sprang open, and the mannikin carried in the princess. "aha! art thou there?" cried the soldier, "get to thy work at once! fetch the broom and sweep the chamber." when she had done this, he ordered her to come to his chair, and then he stretched out his feet and said, "pull off my boots for me," and then he threw them in her face, and made her pick them up again, and clean and brighten them. she, however, did everything he bade her, without opposition, silently and with half-shut eyes. when the first cock crowed, the mannikin carried her back to the royal palace, and laid her in her bed.