ing 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.

"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, "Oh, dear papa, will you not tell us all?”

"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 tomorrow 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?"

66 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 meditation.

Meanwhile the Chancellor sedulously obeyed the orders he had received. Baptiste and his companions were installed in commodious rooms within the palace; and before night a small loom of the best construction, with everything else required for weaving, was placed at their disposal. When this was done, the Chancellor himself accompanied the persons intrusted to bring the jewels demanded by Baptiste for his work, and graciously expressed his hope to the projector that all things were arranged according to his wish. Baptiste, who, as his lordship entered, appeared to be carefully examining the loom, advanced to meet him with a countenance of much solemnity, and having examined the treasures placed before him, said,

My lord, this will suffice. Now leave us to our labours, and let the doors be locked upon us. Till the cock crow, let no one visit us. If we succeed, our work will then be done; if not, we shall be found corpses. When this amulet," continued the mariner, taking one from his bosom as he spoke, "when this amulet shall be seen suspended from yonder window, let the King understand that the hour of trial has arrived, and that he and his court may enter here. And now, farewell! Let us hope that we may meet again; but if not, never more permit mortal man to make his night lodging of this chamber."

The solemnity of this farewell was felt in every fibre of the learned lord's frame. He instantly retreated to his own dwelling, and, in common with many others on that eventful night, passed the hours till break of day in a state as nearly as possible the reverse of repose. In truth, the nobles of Spain were on the following day to be submitted to an experiment, the result of which was of sufficient importance to banish sleep; not one amongst them having the slightest doubt that, were the test to which they were to submit not sustained with honour, their lands, their titles, would melt away from them, as the snow-wreath from an April sun. It was an awful consideration.

Baptiste and his companions, meanwhile, slept soundly; not, however, till they had supped heartily on the viands furnished by the royal kitchen; and, as they drank to their continued success in draughts of rich Malaga, Arnaud and Gregoire received full instructions as to the part they were to play on the morrow.

At length that morrow came, bright in Spanish sunshine. The copper amulet of Baptiste shone in its beams, and immediately the court was in movement. The King himself dismissed his personal attendants hastily, and gave some few moments longer to meditation, ere he again permitted his solitude to be invaded.

"There is something very awful in all this!" said the good King, musing. "Whoever shall not see this magic cloth must be proclaimed a bastard. God grant that all may see it! Their lands and fortunes must else be forfeited to enrich the treasury of Spain. Well!-with this I have nought to do. May the saints have us all in their holy keeping and may right and justice rule the things of earth! But 'tis an awful moment!" he continued, pacing up and down his chamber with a slow and faltering step. "The Lord Vivasa hath a princely revenue-his mother was a lovely woman, and his father ambassador to the court of France. Heaven grant that the young Lord Vivasa may see clearly! He shall go with me to examine this magic cloth, — and my Lord Gimmel, and Lord Alpin too."

At this moment King Alphonso paused both in his walk and in his speech; for a sudden thought shot through his brain that made him tremble. "Merciful Heaven!" he exclaimed anew, "what if I should not see it myself! My crown-my kingdom-" And the good King turned deadly pale as the horrible alternative suggested itself, but the next moment restored his composure, and he added, in a tone of filial confidence and love, "My mother was of the house of Albutana!"

Hardly had his Majesty given utterance to this consolatory thought, when the Lord Chancellor arrived at the door of the chamber, and craved admittance. "You

"Enter, my lord, enter," said the good King, cheerily. come, I trust, to tell me that all is ready for the exhibition of the great experiment?"

66

"I do, my liege," replied the learned lord.

"The saints be praised!" replied Alphonso, placing his arm familiarly within that of the Chancellor. Now, then, let us proceed to the apartment of the Queen. But stay a moment," he added, abruptly; my eager zeal must not lead me to forget what is due to etiquette. It will, of course, be necessary, before I so far descend from my state as to visit these strangers, that some one of known honour should precede me, and report whether indeed the spectacle prepared be worthy to meet the eye of a King. You, my Lord Chancellor, are the proper person to fill this distinguished office. Go, and when you have deliberately examined what the mystic mariners have to show, return and describe it to me."

This command produced considerable agitation in the distinguished individual to whom it was addressed. So little, indeed, did he relish the commission, that he ventured a feeble remonstrance.

"My liege!" he stammered out, " my liege, I do not see how I-I am not married, my liege."

"No, sir," replied the King, with strong symptoms of displeasure; "but your father was. What is it you fear, my lord? Think you that I have given the value of a royal dowry in jewels for nothing? Be very sure, sir, that henceforth none shall approach me who have not stood this test. Go, my lord, and bring me speedily an exact account of all that you shall see. You will find us in the apartment of the

Queen."

His Majesty accordingly repaired to the saloon occupied by his royal consort and the princess his daughter, and having summoned the lords and ladies of the court to attend him there, they all awaited together, and not without some anxiety, the return of the Chancellor.

Ere long he came, and the eyes of every one were instantly fixed upon his face; but no one felt able to interpret the expression of his features. He was somewhat pale, and a certain twitching about the mouth showed agitation and nervousness; but he smiled without ceasing, and in reply to the King, who greeted his entrance by exclaiming, "Well, my lord, your news," he replied,

"What I have seen, my liege, is so wonderful, so utterly surpassing all description, that I can only implore your Majesty to hasten to the magic loom yourself."

You have seen the cloth, then?" said Alphonso, joyfully. "Most heartily do I congratulate you, my lord. What is its colour, my dear Chancellor?”

"Colour!" exclaimed the learned lord in reply. "Oh! my liege,

492

when you have seen it, you will perfectly understand how complely its splendour precludes the possibility of discerning its colour-that is to say, the brilliancy of the colour, or I rather mean, the sparkling of the jewels in short, I can convey no idea of it. Hasten, my liege, hasten yourself, with all your train, to view this prodigy."

Without uttering another word, the King stepped forth, and led the way to the projector's chamber, followed by the whole court. It is certain that many among them went with beating hearts; but not one of the whole cortége was weak enough to betray the fear that caused this; nay, the very intensity of their alarm seemed to strengthen them; for one and all walked forward with steps so steady, that none could comment upon the faltering pace of his neighbour.

On reaching the apartment of the three mariners, they were met almost at the door of it by Baptiste, who, when the King had reached the middle of the room, kneeled down before him with an air of great solemnity, with his eyes fixed upon the ground, and his arms crossed upon his breast.

"Rise, good fellow," said the King, "and show us the work, that we are come to see."

Baptiste was upon his feet in a moment, and turning to Arnaud and Gregoire, commanded them in a voice of authority to hold up between them the magic web he had just taken from the loom. The two men displayed the greatest eagerness to obey him, each of them extending an arm as they stood at several feet distance from each other, as those should do who wish to exhibit to advantage an extent of cloth as large as an ordinary counterpane. Baptiste meanwhile kneeled down before the King, and with an air proudly triumphant pointed to what they seemed to hold out with so much care, and said,

"My gracious liege, approach! Look there, and acknowledge that your patronage has not been bestowed in vain."

King Alphonso started, and turned very pale; but, struggling to recover himself, he answered, though stammering a little as he spoke, "This is very extraordinary!-very wonderful indeed!" "Then I am not disappointed," cried Baptiste, eagerly. Majesty allows the matchless beauty of the workmanship, and I may expect my promised reward?"

"Your

"Oh, it is very fine!-very fine, indeed!" replied the King. "Reward? Oh, yes!-take your reward. What is it you demand? Nothing was ever like it, certainly-no, nothing in the world."

"Most gracious King," said Baptiste, meekly, "not for the universe would I abuse your liberality. Let your treasurer pay me the sum of one hundred thousand doubloons, and I shall be satisfied."

"See to it, my Lord Chancellor, see to it," said the agitated King ; and after a moment he added, with more composure, turning to the circle round him, "Tell me, my friends, and you our royal Queen, say what most does it resemble?

"It is far too beautiful," replied the Queen, with studied composure and deliberation, " far too beautiful to be compared to aught else upon the earth."

"Far too beautiful!-oh! far too beautiful!" exclaimed the whole circle in chorus.

"But what colour, my Lord Vivasa, should you say prevailed the most in it?" said Alphonso, turning to the young nobleman he addressed.