The text refers to ‘the black servant of St Nicholas’. He appears, however, to have white skin: the only thing black is his straggly hair and absurd headgear. He is tall, gaunt, has a hideous, dripping nose, and wears some sort of monk’s frock. Despite his less-than-endearing appearance, he is good-natured: no one gets his trousers dusted or disappears into the sack.