And when that Owlglass approached unto Berlin, he there hired him unto a tailor of that town. Then said his master unto him, as he sate in the workshop: “If that thou sewest for me, sew for me after that wise that it shall be seen of no one.” To him answered Owlglass: “Yea;” and with that took his work, and crept him under the counter, and put his work across his knee, and began there to sew. The tailor stood thereby, and looked upon him, and said unto him: “What doest thou? Of a truth that is a marvellous way to sew thy coat.” And Owlglass answered: “Master, said ye not that I should sew in such wise as that it should be seen of no one, and can any one behold me where I sew?” Then said the tailor: “Nay; but, my dear serving-man, sew ye no longer after that wise, but begin to sew that all may see.”

So fared they on for a matter of three days; and it fortuned one night, that a peasant’s great over-coat, such as in that country is called a wolf, lay unfinished in the shop. This took the tailor, and gave it unto Owlglass, and said unto him: “Here, take the wolf and make it ready, and thereafter mayest thou get thee to bed.” Then answered Owlglass: “Yea; and if ye go will I right quickly do it as ye enjoin.” Then departed the master; and Owlglass took the coat, and he cut it up, and made first a wolf’s head, and then legs and body, and with sticks set it upright on the bench, so that it looked like unto a wolf, and then gat he him unto bed. And when that it was day, the master gat him up, and awakened Owlglass also, and found the wolf standing in the shop. And he marvelled with great wonderment at this doing of Owlglass; and he said unto him when that he came: “I’ the prince of mischief’s name, what is this thing thou hast done?” And Owlglass answered, and said: “A wolf have I made, as ye enjoined me.” Then said the tailor: “Such a wolf would I not have; but a peasant’s great coat. That called I a wolf.” Thereat answered Owlglass, and spake unto the tailor, saying: “Dear master, that knew not I. An ye had said unto me, that ye would have a peasant’s coat, then would I have made it; but ye said I should make a wolf, and, lo! have I not done it? And with greater content would I have made a coat than a wolf.” And the tailor forgave him; for as it was ended, what should he do?

And after four days had passed, was the tailor fain again to sleep, and yet he judged that it was too soon for his man to get him to bed. And there lay a coat in the shop, the which had been finished, all save the arms, which should be sewed on. This took he, and gave it unto Owlglass, saying: “Whip me these arms to the coat, and then mayest thou sleep.” And Owlglass answered: “Yea;” and therewith departed the tailor. Then did Owlglass light two candles, and he hung the coat on a hook, and made him a whip with whipcord, and ’gan to whip the sleeves, so that he might get them unto the coat. Yet stirred they not. And when that his candles were burned down, gat he two more, and lighted them, and burned candles through the whole night. At last arose the master, and came unto Owlglass into the shop, and said unto him: “What mystery play ye here?” And Owlglass answered gravely, and said: “No mystery is this, but hard labour; for the whole night through have I stood here, and whipped me these sleeves with whipcord, yet move they not unto the coat. Better had it been if that ye had bid me sleep; for ye surely knew that I must lose my labour.” Then answered the tailor, and said: “Lay ye that to my charge? Am I ever to be finding ye brains to understand that which I say? Didst not see that I meant that ye should sew the sleeves on to the coat?” Answered straightway unto him Owlglass: “Nay; but, in the evil one’s name, how can ye think that it be my fault, that when ye say one thing I should understand ye to mean another thing? If that I had known what ye would have done, would I not have sewn the sleeves on, and then slept an hour or twain? Now may ye sit ye down, for I will get me unto my bed.” Thereat said the tailor: “Not so; I will not receive into my house folk that lazy be and sleep.” Then did they strive together in anger; and the tailor would have payment of Owlglass for the candles he had burned, but this would not Owlglass give him; therefore took he that which belonged unto him, and departed.