freshing banquet, while the old vine-dresser, for such was the friendly Bibloche, lamented that instead of the grapes he had not their juice to offer as more befitting their toil-worn condition. The three young Frenchmen, however, declared that nothing could be more delightful than the fresh-plucked fruit; and, as bunch after bunch disappeared, the young girl, smiling to see how keenly they were relished, raised her gay voice, and sang, "In stately halls, when the monarch calls, But beneath the vine, instead of wine, "At the lordly board, let the draught be poured, To cheer the care-worn soul; But our spirits light, love these berries bright The repast ended, the mariners prepared to proceed on their road to -they knew not whither, and this melancholy truth being confessed in reply to Bibloche's inquiries, the hospitable old man bid them be of good cheer, for they should find rest and food at his cottage for that night, and set out again on their way to the great city on the morrow. Thankfully was the invitation accepted, and cheerfully did they help the old man and his daughter to finish their day's labour in the fields. The task was done, and the vine-dresser's cottage nearly reached, when they were met by a young man, who approached them with dancing steps, making castanets of his fingers as he bounded along. "Wish me joy, Uncle Bibloche!" he exclaimed, "for I am come home rich enough to marry my cousin Iva, and to have as pretty a farm as yourself.” Say you so, Lazarillo?" replied the old man joyfully; "that is joy indeed! This is my nephew, signors, just returned from paying our blessed King Alphonso a visit in his palace," continued the vinedresser, turning to his guests," and he will be able to tell us news, I'll warrant him." "From the court?" said Baptiste, in an accent of some surprise, and looking at the apparel of Lazarillo, which in truth was but little better fitted for a court than his own. "I understand that glance, Signor Mariner," said Lazarillo, much too happy to be offended, "but if you will do as I have done, you may pay a visit to King Alphonso too, and be as kindly welcomed as I have been, notwithstanding your sea-stained jacket." "Indeed?" was the doubting reply of Baptiste. 66 Ayindeed, and indeed," retorted Lazarillo. And, what was it you did, Signor Courtier?" demanded Baptiste, with a laughing eye. "I invented an invention," replied Lazarillo gravely. Baptiste shrugged his shoulders, like a Frenchman as he was, and grinned from ear to ear. "Nay, then, listen to me," rejoined the young projector, who now appeared piqued at the incredulous airs of his new acquaintance,— "Listen for a moment, and I will explain to you the meaning of my words, and prove their truth also." Lazarillo introduced his tale much as we have introduced ours-that 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 my 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." Well satisfied with these promises of allegiance, Baptiste trudged on without further parley, too much occupied in meditating on the enterprise 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 ourselves 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. Notwithstanding 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 it 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 all 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 sung: Our withering buds we bring to thee, 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 manKing 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. fully. "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, looked 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 audience." It was evident that this air of discreet mystery was by no means displeasing 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 withdrawing 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 behold 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 throughout 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, 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. - -ay, "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 noon-day 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, find |