er but one who looked like a poor beggar-man.

"Who are you and what do you want?" said the old woman.

"Who we are," said the princess, "does not matter, except that we are
honest folk in trouble. What we want is shelter for the night and food
to eat, and that we will pay for."

"Shelter I can give you," said the old woman, "but little else but a
crust of bread and a cup of water. One time there was enough and plenty
in the house; but now, since my husband has gone and I am left all
alone, it is little I have to eat and drink. But such as I have to give
you are welcome to."

Then Beppo and the princess went into the house.

The next morning the princess called Beppo to her. "Here," said she, "is
a ring and a letter. Go you into the town and inquire for Sebastian the
Goldsmith. He will know what to do."

Beppo took the ring and the letter and started off to town, and it
was not hard for him to find the man he sought, for every one knew of
Sebastian the Goldsmith. He was an old man, with a great white beard and
a forehead like the dome of a temple. He looked at Beppo from head to
foot with eyes as bright as those of a snake; then he took the ring
and the letter. As soon as he saw the ring he raised it to his lips and
kissed it; then he kissed the letter also; then he opened it and read
it.

He turned to Beppo and bowed very low. "My lord," said he, "I will do as
I am commanded. Will you be pleased to follow me?"

He led the way into an inner room. There were soft rugs upon the floor,
and around the walls were tapestries. There were couches and silken
cushions. Beppo wondered what it all meant.

Sebastian the Goldsmith clapped his hands together. A door opened, and
there came three black slaves into the room. The Goldsmith spoke to them
in a strange language, and the chief of the three black slaves bowed in
reply. Then he and the others led Beppo into another room where there
was a marble bath of tepid water. They bathed him and rubbed him with
soft linen towels; then they shaved the beard from his cheeks and chin
and trimmed his hair; then they clothed him in fine linen and a plain
suit of gray and Beppo looked like a new man.

Then when all this was done the chief of the blacks conducted Beppo back
to Sebastian the Goldsmith. There was a fine feast spread, with fruit
and wine. Beppo sat down to it, and Sebastian the Goldsmith stood and
served him with a napkin over his arm.

Then Beppo was to return to the