ung with green arras. The king was
sitting in a great chair, by a table spread out with parchments.
Walter first bowed low and then knelt down; the king motioned him to
rise, and then said in a quiet and serene voice, "So, sir, you are the
gentleman that has found a treasure and would fain be rid of it
again." At these gentle words Walter felt his terrors leave him; the
king looked at him with a serious attention; he was a man just passing
into age; his head was nearly hairless, and he had a thin face with a
long nose, and small lips drawn together. On his head was a loose
velvet cap, and he wore his gown furred; round his neck was a jewel,
and he had great rings on his forefingers and thumbs.

The king, hardly pausing for an answer, said, "You look ill, Master
Wyatt, and little wonder; sit here in a chair and tell me the tale in
a few words."

Walter told his story as shortly as he could with the king's kind eye
upon him; the king once or twice interrupted him; he took the bar from
Walter's hands, and looked upon it, weighing it in his fingers, and
saying, "Ay, it is a mighty treasure." Once or twice he made him
repeat a few sentences, and heard the story of the thing that stood
near him with a visible awe.

At last he said with a smile, "You have told your story well, sir,
and plainly; are you a soldier?" When Walter said "no," he said, "It
is a noble trade, nevertheless." Then he said, "Well, sir, the
treasure is yours, to use as I understand you will use it for the
glory of God and for the peace of the poor spirit, which I doubt not
is that of a great knight. But I have no desire to be visited of him,"
and here he crossed himself. "So let it be thus bestowed--and I will
cause a quittance to be made out for you from the Crown, which will
take no part in the trove. How many bars did you say?" And when Walter
said "fifty," the king said, "It is great wealth; and I wish for your
sake, sir, that it were not so sad an inheritance." Then he added,
"Well, sir, that is the matter; but I would hear the end of this, for
I never knew the like; when your church is built and all things are in
order, and let it be done speedily, you shall come and visit me
again." And then the king said, with a kindly smile, "And as for the
maiden of whom I have heard, be not discouraged; for yours is an
ancient house, and it must not be extinguished--and so farewell; and
remember that your king wishes you happiness;" and he made a sign that
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