is to say, he gave a slight sketch of the peculiarities of good King Alphonso, and concluded by entering at length upon a narration of his own adventures; the most remarkable circumstance of which consisted in his having communicated to his Majesty an invention by which a young vine might be planted in the earth, with its roots in the air, and yet prosper most satisfactorily. "I only told the sentry at the gate," said Lazarillo, "that I had invented an invention, and every door seemed to fly open before me; so that, before I knew what I was about, I found myself surrounded by all the grandees of the land, who were waiting the coming of the King. And amusing it was," continued Lazarillo, "to hear their talk. They were laying down the law about some poor young gentleman whose mother, they said, was suspected of being very little better than she should be; and that his Majesty, King Alphonso, had banished him the court, and seized all his lands as a punishment upon her. It was the best fun in the world, to be sure, to hear all the lords argufying together as to whether or no the old lady was worthy to be mother to one of King Alphonso's grandees and they did seem to make him out a desperate tyrant (God forgive me!) in such matters. However," concluded Lazarillo, "that is no business of mine. I was soon called up to the foot of the throne, and, having explained any invention, received this bag of gold for my reward.” Compliments and congratulations, long drawn out, occupied the remainder of the evening; the hospitable Bibloche contrived to find space for three fragrant beds of vine-leaves within the shelter of the cottage; and, soon after daybreak on the following morning, after a somewhat long tête-à-tête conversation between Baptiste and Lazarillo, the refreshed and grateful mariners took their departure amidst the hearty good wishes of the happy party they left behind. "It is a painful step, Baptiste, that takes one from a good meal when one does not know where on God's earth to turn for another," said young Arnaud, with a sigh, as they trudged along, without even a stick with a bundle at the end of it to comfort them. "That, as I take it, depends a good deal upon a man's confidence in his own private resources," replied Baptiste. "But, what if three poor devils start off without having any private resources at all?" said Gregoire, the third shipwrecked mariner. "Speak for yourself, if you please, M. Gregoire," replied Baptiste, with a gay flourish of the hand. "We were all in the same plight when we were wrecked, Baptiste; and for aught I can see we are so still," said Gregoire, doggedly. "Fear nothing, my fine fellows!" exclaimed Baptiste, gaily. "Arnaud, you brought me safe to shore through a rough sea, but then I stuck close to your jacket, remember. Do you but stick as fast to mine now, and I will engage to bring you safe through the rocks and quicksands among which I am going to steer. And as for you, Gregoire, you may, if you will, come after, as you did from the wreck, for company.' Arnaud readily promised to follow whithersoever his friend should lead; while Gregoire lustily exclaimed, "Fear not, my lads, that I should lag behind. If he sticks fast for love, Baptiste, I shall stick fast for fear." Wel! satisfied with these promises of allegiance, Baptiste trudged on without further parley, too much occupied in meditating on the enter prise he contemplated to feel any inclination to talk. After about three hours' sharp walking, however, Gregoire ventured to remark, that if there was no particular objection to it, he should like hugely to know where they were going? what was the business they were about to undertake? and how soon they were likely to get something to eat. Baptiste stopped short; and, assuming an air of grave authority, replied, "We are going, Gregoire, to the royal palace, there to present ourselyes before King Alphonso. So much for your first question. In regard to eating, it will not be wise to think of it for some miles to come. Nevertheless, you shall find I have wherewithal to keep up our strength upon the road. So much for your third question. As to the second, friend Gregoire, you must for the present excuse my declining to be very explicit." It is unnecessary to follow our adventurers step by step till they reached the abode of the King. Suffice it to say, that by following the instructions received from Lazarillo, Baptiste contrived to bring himself and his comrades safely within its gorgeous walls. Notwith standing the miserable condition of their apparel, indeed, they were treated with the greatest respect; Baptiste seemed perfectly well to understand what he was about, and, having placed a small scroll of written parchment in the hands of an officer, who promised that it should be instantly forwarded to the King, he assumed the air and the step of a man already assured of success. The three Frenchmen were ushered without delay into a sumptuous hall, and desired to wait there till his Majesty should be at leisure to give them audience. That this interval was an anxious one there can be no doubt, nevertheless, there was so much to admire in the novel scene that did not seem long; nor was their wondering sight the only sense regaled, for presently their ears were enchanted by the sound of sweet voices singing at no great distance; and cautiously advancing a few steps in the direction from whence it came, they perceived through an arcade of marble a garden gay in flowers, and delicious in its chequered shade and sunshine. In the midst of this blooming paradise the bright waters of a crystal fountain bounded upwards, as if in sportive defiance of the sun, whose mid-day fervour seemed now to subdue and render languid al! movement but their own. Almost close beside it, sheltered by a fragrant grove of locust and orange-trees, a group of young girls sat or lay, in various attitudes of listless luxury, while one among them sung what seemed to be a hymn to the sparkling shower that danced before them, her pretty companions joining her in chorus, and thus they sang: Our withering buds we bring to thee, Oh! fairy fountain." Hardly had the voices ceased, when a pair of ample folding-doors at the opposite extremity of the hall were thrown open, and our three bold mariners found themselves standing before the eyes of the King. Alphonso was seated in a chair of state, the Queen, and the fair Princess, his daughter, sat beside him, while a brilliant assemblage of lords and ladies stood around. It was a dazzling spectacle, and might well have daunted the spirits of poor men, to whom the splendours of earthly greatness were unknown; but our three mariners had looked upon the angry majesty of the ocean, and they stood their ground manfully. King Alphonso spoke a few words to the Lord Chancellor of the kingdom, who stood near him, and he whispered to an officer in attendance, who immediately stepped forward, and gave the strangers to understand that they were to approach. "Which of you," demanded King Alphonso, "is the man who has to communicate to me a yet unheard-of discovery?" "It is I, O King!" said Baptiste, stepping forward, and falling on his knees before the royal footstool. A gold-laced silken arm on either side seized his rough sleeve, to check what seemed too daring an approach, but the good King cried aloud, "Let him come on! Think you, my lords, that we fear a soiled jacket, or the brave mariner who wears it? Speak!" he continued, bending his royal head towards Baptiste, "Speak, and fear nothing. Produce the astonishing fabric of which your letter makes mention, and your reward shall not disgrace the liberality of Alphonso." Baptiste, with a clear, undaunted eye, locked the monarch in the face, and replied, "Most gracious King! I have been wrecked upon your coast, and am totally unprovided with the means of fabricating the precious article which I have named to your Majesty. Grant me but the materials I require for the work, and before to-morrow's sun has reached its noon, they shall be returned to you wrought and blended into the stupendous tissue I have promised. If I fail in this let my life, and the lives of my assistants, be the forfeit." After looking for a moment earnestly in the face of the projector, King Alphonso replied by saying, "What are the materials you require ?" "Three hundred pearls, worthy to adorn the crown of a king; thirty times thirty diamonds, of the quality usually set aside for the use of royalty; and seven times seven rubies, each one in weight seven carats." "By our Lady! good fellow, thy demands are not light," replied the King; "and before we grant them, it will be fitting we should know what it is we have to look for in return. Say." "A cloth, my liege," replied Baptiste, solemnly, "the most gorgeously beautiful that ever met a mortal eye, wherein the splendour of the gems employed shall not exceed, nor equal, O King! the occult skill with which they shall be arranged. But gloriously as it shall show to the eye, its external beauty will, in your Majesty's judgment, be as vileness compared to its hidden virtues. Let all in the royal presence pass sentence on its apparent value, but let Alphonso himself be judge of the worth of that secret, which," and here Baptiste looked respectfully round the circle, while he added, almost in a whisper to the royal ear, "cannot be revealed with propriety before so full an audi• ence. It was evident that this air of discreet mystery was by no means dis pleasing to the King, who immediately replied, "You are right, quite right, Signor Mariner; we will listen to your communication in private. My lords, conduct the Queen, and our fair daughter, to their withdraw. ing rooms.' This command was obeyed with as much promptitude as was consistent with dignity, and King Alphonso remained alone with the three Frenchmen. "Now, speak what you would have us hear, good friend!" said his Majesty, graciously addressing Baptiste. The bold. spirited sailor on this raised himself from the kneeling position he had hitherto retained, and standing erect before the Monarch, replied with great solemnity as follows, "Great Alphonso! yourself shall see this cloth of gems and mystery. Assuredly thy gracious daughter shall be. hold it; so, doubtless, shall thy royal queen; and, as we all must hope, so likewise shall the honoured nobles who form thy court. But know, O King! that should a mother's frailty have in any way tarnished the purity of descent, the spurious issue shall look upon this mystic cloth, and shall behold a void!" As the last words fell upon the ear of the King, he clasped his hands in a species of ecstasy, and for a few moments his feelings appeared too great for utterance; but at length he exclaimed, "This wisdom is heaven-brought, good youth! and every bishop and archbishop through. out the land shall command the people of Spain to return a pious thanksgiving for its having reached their King. One ray of inspiration from Heaven outvalues all the efforts that human wisdom can make! For long years, young man, I have laboured to achieve what you have now accomplished, ere half my age has passed over your brow. All that you require shall be forthwith furnished to you,-ay, were it ten times as much! You know not yourself, my friend, the importance of this discovery. The saints in heaven be praised for the blessed light that has come upon you! Now, now at least, I am sure that none but the nobly born shall share our counsels." All this was uttered with an air of such intense interest, that Arnaud and Gregoire trembled from head to toe lest their bold comrade should have awakened hopes which it might prove beyond his power to gratify. "What time shall you require for this work?" demanded Alphonso, rising, and laying his hand condescendingly on the arm of Baptiste. "When the materials I have demanded shall have been furnished," replied the projector, "three times three hours of labour will suffice to complete it, and render it worthy the inspection of my lord the King." "And of my lords, the King's courtiers too, my good fellow,” replied his Majesty, with a gracious smile. "It shall be ready by noonday to-morrow, for every eye whose beam is not obscured by the inherited blot I have already named." "Good!—of course I understand-visible with that proviso. Now then, await in the hall without, till apartments shall have been appointed for your use." Baptiste and his two companions retired accordingly, while the good King Alphonso hastened to the presence of the Queen, and, finding her and his fair daughter surrounded by all the principal lords and ladies of the court, he gladly seized the opportunity of communicating the glorious hopes he had conceived from the superhuman skill of the three mariners whom they had seen. 66 Congratulate me, my Queen!" he exclaimed, as he gallantly kissed her royal hand. "Now am I a King indeed!" It will be easily believed that this exclamation excited considerable curiosity, which, though plainly to be read in the eyes of all, was breathed by no lips but those of the beauteous Princess Isabel, who joyously clapping her hands, cried in a voice of youthful eagerness, 66 Oh, dear рара, will you not tell us all ?" 66 "I will, my fairest!" replied the Monarch; "and you of all the world, shall rejoice the most. Now listen, then!-listen all of you!" continued the King, with impressive dignity. "Before this hour to morrow I shall have within the walls of my palace a test by which, beyond the possibility of doubt, I shall be enabled to decide on the purity of birth of every one who approaches me." It was so evident that the King was pleased, that a smile indicative of equal pleasure naturally irradiated the visage of every one in the presence, though, to say truth, not one of the circle had the least idea of what his Majesty might mean; but, after the pause of a moment, the venerable Lord Chancellor of the kingdom ventured to say, "Does my Lord the King mean to infer that some ancient and most authentic pedigrees have come to light, which are to be brought before him?" "No, my Lord Chancellor," replied the King, "that is not what I mean to say. The treasure of which I speak will have the power of showing me if my peers be really the sons of the honoured fathers whose names they bear." These few words appeared to produce a very remarkable effect upon the circle. Many of the lords exchanged glances that spoke more of alarm than joy; and several of the elder ladies became greatly agitated. A silence of several minutes ensued, which was at length broken by the Queen's saying, "Will not your Majesty explain by what means this most desirable knowledge is to be obtained?"" "Most willingly, madam,-most willingly will I communicate all I have already learnt on this stupendous subject. The mysterious mariners, whose introduction to our presence you all witnessed, have undertaken, by the hour I have named, to manufacture a web, that to the legitimate shall sparkle with gold and precious stones, but which to all others will be utterly invisible." "A glorious discovery, indeed, my liege!" replied the Queen of Spain. "Let us together have the pleasure of taking our daughter to behold this wondrous tissue. It will assuredly be visible to her eyes, if to none other in the world." all "Agreed, fair Queen," replied the well-pleased Monarch; "we will go, and I trust there is not one of those around us who will be so wretched as not to see it. My Lord Chancellor," continued his Majesty, "to no one of less dignity than yourself will I intrust the almost sacred office of seeing that all things which those wondrous men require should be furnished to them. They wait in the Hall of Arches; let their accommodation within the palace be instantly attended to." Having pronounced these words, King Alphonso retired to his pri vate apartments, where he passed the remainder of the day in medi tation. |