Lucy followed the great Lion out into the passage and at once she saw coming towards them an old man， barefoot， dressed in a red robe. His white hair was crowned with a chaplet of oak leaves， his beard fell to his girdle， and he supported himself with a curiously carved staff. When he saw Aslan he bowed low and said，“Welcome， Sir， to the least of your houses.”
“Do you grow weary， Coriakin， of ruling such foolish subjects as I have given you here？”
“No，” said the Magician， “they are very stupid but there is no real harm in them. I begin to grow rather fond of the creatures. Sometimes， perhaps， I am a little impatient， waiting for the day when they can be governed by wisdom instead of this rough magic.”
“All in good time， Coriakin，” said Aslan.
“Yes， all in very good time， Sir，” was the answer. “Do you intend to show yourself to them？”
