PRINCE RICARDO. I49

 

no mistake; the darkness was quite lighted up
with the sheen of the seven little moons in the
silver. The king looked rather grave.

“Tf you can trust me with this cross till to-
morrow, Rosina, I should like to have it ex-
amined and analysed. This is no common
silver.”

Of course Rosina could only curtsy, but she
was very much alarmed about the consequences
to her mistress.

After luncheon, the king asked Jaqueline to
come into his study, as he often did, to help
him with his letters. When they had sat down,
his Majesty said:

‘“My dear Jaqueline, I never interfere with
your pursuits, but I almost doubt whether
Cornelius Agrippa is a good book for a very
young lady to read. The Fairy Paribanou, I
am sure, taught you nothing beyond the
ordinary magical accomplishments suited to
your rank; but there are a great many things
in the Cornelius which I think you should
not study till you are older and wiser.”

“What does your Majesty mean ?”’ said poor
Jaqueline, feeling very uncomfortable; for the
king had never lectured her before.

“Why,” said his Majesty, taking the silver
cross out of his pocket, ‘‘ did you not give this to
Rosina?”

“Yes, sire, I did give her the drops. She
had them made up herself.”