and said, as he had said to the
prime-minister, "Alas, my poor friend!"

When he rode away he left the lord-treasurer as white as ashes to the
very lips.

Three days passed, and then, while the king talked to Beppo, Beppo
looked at the lord-treasurer and smiled.

The lord-treasurer followed him to the door of the palace.

"It is well, and I wish you joy," said Beppo.

The treasurer offered him a fortune.

The next time it was the same with the captain of the guards. First
Beppo pitied him, and then he wished him joy.

"My lord," said the captain of the guards, "my services are yours at any
time."

Then the same thing happened to the governor of the city, then to this
lord, and then to that lord.

Beppo grew rich and powerful beyond measure.

Then one day the princess said: "Now we will go into the town, and to
the palace of the prime-minister's son, which the prime-minister gave
you, for the time is ripe for the end."

In a few days all the court knew that Beppo was living like a prince in
the prime-minister's palace. The king began to wonder what it all meant,
and how all such good-fortune had come to Beppo. He had grown very tired
of always speaking to Beppo the same words.

But Beppo was now great among the great; all the world paid court to
him, and bowed down to him, almost as they did before the king.

"Now," said the princess, "the time has come to strike. Bid all the
councillors, and all the lords, and all the nobles to meet here three
days hence, for it is now or never that you shall win all and become
king."

Beppo did as she bade. He asked all of the great people of the kingdom
to come to him, and they came. When they were all gathered together at
Beppo's house, they found two thrones set as though for a king and a
queen, but there was no sign of Beppo, and everybody wondered what it
all meant.

Suddenly the door opened and Beppo came into the room, leading by the
hand a lady covered with a veil from head to foot.

Everybody stopped speaking and stood staring while Beppo led the veiled
lady up to one of the thrones. He seated himself upon the other.

The lady stood up and dropped her veil, and then every one knew her.

It was the princess. "Do you not know me?" said she; "I am the queen,
and this is my husband. He is your king."

All stood silent for a moment, and then a great shout went up. "Long
live the queen! Long live the king!"

The princess turned to the captain of the guards