cond-hand clothes shop in the Essex Road,
Islington. As each of these personages entered, the courtiers, who were
not in view, shouted "Evviva." Last of all came Samson.

There was a dispute and it was to be submitted to the king, whom they
addressed as Pharaoh. I said to Turiddu--

"But Pharaoh was king of Egypt and all this happened in Palestine--if,
indeed, it happened anywhere."

"Pharaoh also governed Palestine," replied Turiddu.

The dispute arose out of the killing of the lion which had been about to
attack the lady, and Samson, having delivered her, was by every precedent
of romance bound to marry her and wished to do so. But she was already
engaged to the golden Scotchman, and that was why he had kissed her.
After much discussion it was agreed that if the paladin should guess the
riddle to be put forth by Samson he might marry the lady, otherwise
Samson should have her. All was done regularly and in the presence of
King Pharaoh.

Samson then propounded his riddle: "Out of the eater came forth meat, and
out of the strong came forth sweetness."

The golden Highlander winked his eyes, put his fist up to his forehead
and meditated anxiously for some time. Then he said--

"Sono confuso."

He wanted to give it up, but the lady would not allow this, and King
Pharaoh, taking in the situation, ruled that he must have time; so they
all went away except the knight and the lady. Then the poor paladin made
the best use of his time and gave his whole attention to the riddle;
sometimes he winked his eyes, and sometimes he put his fist up to his
head and meditated as hard as ever he could, turning first one way and
then the other. But nothing came of it; he only repeated--

"Sono confuso."

The lady continued her encouragement, saying that riddles were seldom
easy to guess, that he must not worry too much and the true answer would
come into his head, probably while he was thinking of something else; but
he only turned away and said again--

"Sono confuso."

The lady did not mind how stupid he was, for she was really in love with
him; but she began to perceive that, unless something were done, she
might have to marry a man who, though very strong and clever enough to
compose a riddle, was unable to wink his eyes, so she undertook to see
Samson alone and try to inveigle the answer out of him. The knight,
having had some experience of her powers of persuasion, was comforted,
discontinued his meditations, d