oose to help you; so say what you want,
quick."

"A-and who might your worship be?" asked Bartlemy, with a cold shudder;
for he felt desperately afraid that he had got hold of Old Boguey or
Old Nick--it was not much matter which.

"That's none of your business," said the being; "but if you must know, I
am Snippinbitz, the patron of the tailors."

"O lord, your worship, you don't say so!" stammered Bartlemy.

"That's a fact!" returned the goblin. "Come, out with it; what can I do
for you?"

Bartlemy scratched his head and took off his cap, looked into it, found
no words there, and put it on again; and finally, with a bow that nearly
toppled him head over heels, and a kick up of his foot that sent his
remaining slipper flying into the nearest mud-puddle, he managed to
say:

"Please, your worship, I want to find the Gold Stone."

The goblin burst into a discordant laugh on hearing this; then, suddenly
becoming serious, he said:

"Well, that's a sensible request, Bartlemy, and a modest one,
considering the circumstances. Never mind, I have taken a fancy to you;
your wish shall be accomplished. See here."

With these words Snippinbitz put his hand in his pocket, and pulled out
a magnificent jewel, as it seemed to Bartlemy. It was of the most
resplendent purple color imaginable, and sparkled all over with flecks
of gold, which seemed to swim beneath the surface. Nothing could look
more gorgeously beautiful as the astonished tailor held it up in the
moonlight; yes, there could be no doubt of it; the mysterious, the
unattainable Gold Stone was really his!

"Now, Bartlemy, attend to me," continued the being. "The Gold Stone is
yours, but under certain conditions, which must be faithfully complied
with, or no gold! First, you must return to London to-morrow, seek out
your old master, and ask him to employ you as a regular workman. You
will find yourself able to sew as well as the best, through my
assistance, and you must employ this power diligently on the work he
gives you to do. I warn you, however, that you must keep the secret of
the Gold Stone from everybody; and, in order that you may do so, you
must never take it out of your pouch until you are safe in your own
chamber. Secondly, when you receive your wages, place the money directly
in the pouch containing the Gold Stone, and do not look at it until you
go to bed. Then you will find the copper turned into silver, and the
silver into gold. But if you count the