id the man.

"Very well," said Beppo; "I'd as lief go along with you as anywhere
else."

So he turned and followed the man whither he led.

They went along first one street and then another, and by-and-by they
came to the river, and there was a long wall with a gate in it. The tall
man in black knocked upon the gate, and some one opened it from within.
The man in black entered, and Beppo followed at his heels, wondering
where he was going.

He was in a garden. There were fruit trees and flowering shrubs and long
marble walks, and away in the distance a great grand palace of white
marble that shone red as fire in the light of the setting sun, but there
was not a soul to be seen anywhere.

The tall man in black led the way up the long marble walk, past the
fountains and fruit trees and beds of roses, until he had come to the
palace.

Beppo wondered whether he were dreaming.

The tall man in black led the way into the palace, but still there was
not a soul to be seen.

Beppo gazed about him in wonder. There were floors of colored marble,
and ceilings of blue and gold, and columns of carved marble, and
hangings of silk and velvet and silver.

Suddenly the tall man opened a little door that led into a dark passage,
and Beppo followed him. They went along the passage, and then the man
opened another door.

Then Beppo found himself in a great vaulted room. There at one end of
the room were three souls. A man sat on the throne, and he was the
king, for he had a crown on his head and a long robe over his shoulders.
Beside him stood a priest, and in front of him stood a beautiful young
woman as white as wax and as still as death.

Beppo wondered whether he were awake.

"Come hither," said the king, in a harsh voice, and Beppo came forward
and kneeled before him. "Take this young woman by the hand," said the
king.

Beppo did as he was bidden.

Her hand was as cold as ice.

Then, before Beppo knew what was happening, he found that he was being
married.

It was the princess.

"Now," said the king to her when the priest had ended, and he frowned
until his brows were as black as thunder--"now you are married; tell me,
is your husband greater than I?"

But the princess said never a word, only the tears ran one after another
down her white face. The king sat staring at her and frowning.

Suddenly some one tapped Beppo upon the shoulder. It was the tall man in
black.

Beppo knew that he was to follow him agai