I12 The Catskill Fairies.

the kitchen. Over the kitchen door funny little figures are
carved of cooks and scullions busy with brooms and pots, just
like cooks at the present time.

“The rear of the building is like a fortress, with a rampart
and moat, and no windows. There is a round tower overlook-
ing the moat, where Jacques Coeur had an office; and above the
office was a vaulted strong room, secured by an iron door, and
a wonderful lock, that still works after centuries of use. There
he kept his money-bags. There were no safes or police then,
and the burglars were armed bands of rude soldiers.

“More than four hundred years ago Jacques Cceur stood in
this little office, looking through the narrow window out on the
roofs and chimneys, which were ornamented with gilded cockle-
shells and statues of monks. His thoughts must have wander-
ed beyond the moat and the level meadows of the province of
Berri to the blue Mediterranean, where every breeze was waft-
ing along his ships freighted with wealth from the rich ports
of the East. He would serve his king, Charles VIL, faithfully ;
but the wicked monarch would pay the debt by arresting the
merchant and casting him into prison.

“Jacques Coeur belonged to the people. His father was a
merchant before him, but the son had greater industry. He
sent out travellers in every direction; he regulated the mint of
Paris; he went on a mission to the Pope. When he erected
this palace, he said to himself:

“* This house shall be my tomb, and tell the story of my life
and age. I have earned my gold by working hard—yet it is not
safe for me to be rich; so I must make iron doors and secret

passages, as well as drawing-rooms and chapels, decorated by