vourite steed the whole time, having
been presented by the king with a gold snuff-box, from which he was to
take ample pinches in order to keep himself awake, and give signal by
a loud sneeze. He was also armed with a heavy sword, with which he was
to knock the thief on the head if he approached.

The rogue first arrayed himself in the master of the bedchamber's
clothes, without his leave. About midnight he proceeded to join the
guards, furnished with different kinds of wine, and told them that the
king had sent him to thank them for so cheerfully complying with his
orders. He also informed them that the impostor had been already
caught and secured, and added that the king had given permission for
the guards to have a glass or two, and requested that they would not
give the word quite so loudly, as her majesty had not been able to
close her eyes. He then marched into the stables, where he found the
master of the horse astride the royal charger, busily taking snuff and
sneezing at intervals. The master of the bedchamber poured him out a
sparkling glass to drink to the health of his majesty, who had sent
it, and it looked too excellent to resist. Both master and guards then
began to jest over the Arch Rogue's fate, taking, like good subjects,
repeated draughts--all to his majesty's health. At length they began
to experience their effects. They gaped and stretched, sank gradually
upon the ground, and fell asleep. The master, by dint of fresh
pinches, was the last to yield, but he too blinked, stopped the horse,
which he had kept at a walk, and said--

"I am so confoundedly sleepy I can hold it no longer. Take you care of
the charger for a moment. Bind him fast to the stall--and just keep
watch."

Having uttered these words, he fell like a heavy sack upon the floor
and snored aloud. The conjurer took his place upon the horse, gave it
whip and spur, and galloped away through the sleeping guards, through
the court gates, and whistled as he went.

Early in the morning the king, eager to learn the result, hastened to
his royal mews, and was not a little surprised to find the whole of
his guards fast asleep upon the ground, but he saw nothing of his
charger.

"What is to do here?" he cried in a loud voice. "Get up; rouse, you
idle varlets!"

At last one of them, opening his eyes, cried out--

"The king! the king!"

"Ay, true enough, I am here," replied his majesty, "but my favourite
horse is not. Speak, answer on the