"They are finished."
"Well, show them." He looked at the shoes and was astonished. "See
what a man I have got for myself,--not a shoemaker, but a wonder!" He
took the shoes and carried them to the market to sell.
At that same time three weddings were in preparation at the palace.
Pyotr Tsarevich was to marry Yelena the Beautiful, Vassili Tsarevich
the Tsaritsa of the Silver Kingdom, and they were giving the Tsaritsa
of the Copper Kingdom to a general. They were making dresses for those
weddings. Yelena the Beautiful wanted shoes. Our shoemaker's shoes
were better than all the others brought to the palace.
When Yelena looked at them she said, "What does this mean? They make
shoes like these only in the mountains." She paid the shoemaker a
large price and said, "Make me without measure another pair
wonderfully sewed, ornamented with precious stones, and studded with
diamonds. They must be ready by to-morrow; if not, to the gallows with
thee."
The shoemaker took the precious stones and money and went home,--such
a gloomy man! "Misery," said he, "what am I to do now? How can I make
shoes by to-morrow, and besides without measure? It is clear that they
will hang me to-morrow; let me have at least a last frolic with my
friends."
He went to the inn. These friends of his were numerous; they asked,
"Why art thou so gloomy, brother?"
"Oh, my dear friends," answered he, "they are going to hang me
to-morrow!"
"Why so?"
The shoemaker told his trouble. "How think of work in such a position?
Better I'll frolic to-night for the last time."
So they drank and drank, frolicked and frolicked; the shoemaker was
staggering already.
"Well," said he, "I'll take home a keg of spirits, lie down to sleep;
and to-morrow when they come to hang me, I'll drink a gallon and a
half right away. Let them hang me without my senses."
He came home. "Well, thou reprobate!" said he to Ivan Tsarevich, "see
what thy shoes have done ... so and so.... When they come in the
morning for me, wake me up."
In the night Ivan Tsarevich took out the whistle and blew. Lame and
Crooked appeared. "What is thy pleasure, Ivan Tsarevich?"
"That shoes of such a kind be ready."
"We obey!"
Ivan lay down to sleep. Next morning he woke up; the shoes were on the
table shining like fire. He went to rouse his master.
"It is time to rise, master."
"What! have they come for me? Bring the keg quickly! Here is a cup,
pour the spirits in; let them hang me drunk."
"But the shoes are made."
"How made? Where are they?"