At length he made out some sort of track, and though at the beginning it was so
rough and slippery that he fell down more than once, it presently became
easier, and led him into an avenue of trees which ended in a splendid castle. It
seemed to the merchant very strange that no snow had fallen in the avenue,
which was entirely composed of orange trees, covered with flowers and fruit.
When he reached the first court of the castle he saw before him a flight of agate
steps, and went up them, and passed through several splendidly furnished
rooms. The pleasant warmth of the air revived him, and he felt very hungry;
but there seemed to be nobody in all this vast and splendid palace whom he
could ask to give him something to eat. Deep silence reigned everywhere, and
at last, tired of roaming through empty rooms and galleries, he stopped in a
room smaller than the rest, where a clear fire was burning and a couch was
drawn up closely to it.
