before him, and invited him in the name of their Prince Mistafor
Skurlatovich to visit him and be his guest. "Go," answered Goria, "and
tell Mistafor Skurlatovich that I will soon come to him." So the
ambassadors bowed low to the shoemaker, and returned and related to
their Prince what they had heard from the supposed Tsarevich Dardavan,
and all they had seen.

After the departure of Mistafor's messengers, Prituitshkin went to
Goria the shoemaker and said: "Now is the time for you to go to
Mistafor; listen to what I say: when you come to the courtyard of the
palace, and dismount from your steed, do not fasten him up, nor give
him to anyone to hold, but only cough loudly, and stamp on the ground
with all your might. When you enter the hall, seat yourself on the
chair numbered One. In the evening, when it is time to retire to rest,
remain behind, and as soon as your bed is ready, do not lie down upon
it, for Prince Dardavan always lies on his own bed, which weighs a
hundred poods. I will provide you with such a bed; and if I delay,
strike me in the presence of Mistafor and his daughter. When you go to
bed, and the servants bring you a number of lights, bid them take the
lights all away, and order me to bring you a stone, which Prince
Dardavan always lays on his table at night. I will bring you this
stone, which shows more light than a thousand candles."

When Goria the shoemaker heard these directions he promised to observe
them all. So he went into the courtyard, and Prituitshkin brought him
the horse saddled. Then Goria mounted the steed, and Prituitshkin
another, and away they rode to Mistafor Skurlatovich; and when they
entered the courtyard, Mistafor came out to meet his beloved
son-in-law, the supposed Prince Dardavan. Then Goria the shoemaker
dismounted from his gallant steed; but he did not fasten him up, nor
did he give him to anyone to hold: he only coughed aloud and stamped
upon the ground. The horse stood, as if rooted to the spot. Then Goria
went into the hall and bowed to all four sides, kissed his host, and
seated himself upon the chair with the number One. Mistafor went to
his daughter Dogada, and bade her come and welcome her betrothed
husband, Prince Dardavan; but Dogada was discreet and cunning, and
replied; "My gracious lord and father, this is indeed not Prince
Dardavan, but our shoemaker Goria Krutshinin." "Don't talk nonsense,"
said Mistafor; "I have seen Prince Dardavan face to face, and know him