Trusty John made the King remain behind on the ship and await his return. ‘Perhaps,’ he said, ‘I may bring the Princess back with me, so see that everything is in order: let the gold ornaments be arranged and the whole ship decorated.’ Then he took a few of the gold things in his apron, went ashore, and proceeded straight to the palace. When he came to the courtyard he found a beautiful maiden standing at the well, drawing water with two golden pails. And as she was about to carry away the glittering water she turned round and saw the stranger, and asked him who he was. Then he replied: ‘I am a merchant;’ and opening his apron, he let her peep in. ‘Oh! my,’ she cried; ‘what beautiful gold wares!’ she set down her pails, and examined one thing after the other. Then she said; ‘The Princess must see this, she has such a fancy for gold things that she will buy up all you have got.’ She took him by the hand and let him into the palace, for she was the lady’s-maid.

When the Princess had seen the wares she was quite enchanted, and said: ‘They are all so beautifully made that I shall buy everything you have.’ But Trusty John said: ‘I am only the servant of a rich merchant, what I have here is nothing compared to what my master has on his ship; his merchandise is more artistic and costly than anything that has ever been made in gold before.’ She desired to have everything brought up to her, but he said: ‘There is such a quantity of things that it would take many days to bring them up, and they would take up so many rooms that you would have no space for them in your house.’ Thus her desire and curiosity were excited to such an extent that at last she said: ‘Take me to your ship; I shall go there myself and view your master’s treasures.’