His horse slipped on the muddy road. He got lost in the forest. Night was coming on and he heard wolves howling. All at once, in the distance he saw a light. It was a large castle.
No one answered the big front door, but suddenly it opened. Inside, a fire blazed in a great hall. Food and drink was set out on the table.
The merchant ate. Still no one appeared.
After some time, the merchant went upstairs, where he found a bedroom with a large bed. He climbed onto it, and fell fast asleep.