m and
his cloak of foxtails flapping in the wind, rode the jester-king--a
strange sight which caused unbounded merriment in all the country towns
through which the procession passed.

Arrived in Rome, the Emperor and his supposed brother were received with
great pomp in the great square before St. Peter's. Little did the Pope
dream, as he bestowed his blessing and prayers on his younger brother,
that he was entertaining an angel unawares.

Suddenly a wild, unkempt figure rushed from among the crowd and into the
royal assembly. Forcing his way to the place where the Pope was seated
he cried loudly, "I am your brother Robert, King of Sicily. This man who
stands before you in my semblance is an impostor disguised as the King.
Do you not know me? Is there no voice within you that says I speak
truly, and that I am indeed your brother?"

The Pope made no reply, but gazed with troubled look at the angel's
unruffled face. Then the Emperor Valmond laughed and said:

"Brother, methinks you have strange taste to keep a madman for your
court-jester!"

It seemed quite evident to the bystanders that what the Emperor said was
very true, and once more, baffled and disgraced, the poor jester was
roughly thrust back among the wondering crowd.

[Illustration]

The week was spent in prayer and stately rejoicing till at length Easter
Sunday dawned upon the world. The presence of the angel filled the city
with gladness and the hearts of men with piety. Even the wretched jester
felt the influence of some gracious power, and, kneeling on the floor of
his cell, he humbly bowed his head in prayer. He felt new strength
rising within him, and new resolves, strangely meek ones for so proud a
King, were made by him on that glorious Easter morn.

The next day the three royal brothers bade each other farewell. Emperor
Valmond made his way northward to his kingdom by the Danube, while the
angel journeyed southward through the towns of Italy. Once more the
people marveled at the magnificence of his train, and once more the
jester became the laughing-stock of all the watching crowds, but he rode
on unheeding. His mad anger was stilled and he began at last to realize
that he had indeed deserved his dreadful punishment.

When the town of Salerno was reached the journey was continued by sea,
and soon the royal retinue was safe within the walls of Palermo. Seated
on his throne in the great hall, the angel listened dreamily to the
convent bells, wh