Not knowing how to help herself, she ordered her maid to sneak into the prince's bedroom. There the maid was to listen to his dreams, for the princess thought that he would perhaps talk in his sleep and reveal the riddle. However, the prince's clever servant had placed himself in the bed instead of his master, and when the maid came in, he ripped off the robe that she had covered herself with, and then chased her out with a bundle of switches.

　　The second night the princess sent her chambermaid, who was to see if she would be more successful in listening, but the servant took her robe away from her as well, and then chased her out with a bundle of switches.

　　The master now believed that he would be safe for the third night, and he lay down in his own bed. This time the princess herself came. She had on a mist-gray robe and sat down next to him. When she thought that he was asleep and dreaming, she spoke to him, hoping that he would answer in his sleep, like many do. However, he was still awake and understood and heard everything very well.

　　Then she asked, "One killed none. What is that?"

　　He answered, "A raven that ate from a dead and poisoned horse, and died of it."

　　She asked further, "But still killed twelve. What is that?"

　　He answered, "Those are twelve murderers who ate the raven and died of it."

　　Now that she knew the riddle she wanted to sneak away, but he held her robe so fast that she had to leave it behind.

　　The next morning, the princess announced that she had guessed the riddle and sent for the twelve judges and solved it before them.

　　But the youth asked for a hearing, saying, "She sneaked into my room during the night and questioned me. Otherwise she would not have guessed it."

　　The judges said, "Bring us proof."

　　Then the prince's servant brought in the three robes, and when the judges saw the mist-gray one which the princess usually wore, they said, "Have this robe embroidered with gold and silver, and then it will be your wedding robe."