TWILIGHT LAND

There at one end of the room were three souls. A man

sat on the. throne, and he was the king, for he had a
crown on his head and a long robe over his shoulders.
Beside him stood a priest, and in front of him stood a
beautiful young woman as white as wax and as still as
death.

Beppo wondered whether he were awake.

“Come hither,” said the king, in a. harsh voice, and
Beppo came forward and kneeled before him. ‘Take
this young woman by the hand,” said the king.

Beppo did as he was bidden.

Her hand was as cold as ice.

Then, before Beppo knew what was happening, he
found that he was being married.

It was the princess.

“Now,” said the king to her when the priest had
ended—and he frowned until his brows were as black as
thunder—“ now you are married; tell me, is your hus-
band greater than 1?”

But the princess said never a word, only the tears ran
one after another down her white face. The king sat
staring at her and frowning.

Suddenly some one tapped Beppo upon the shoulder.
It was the tall man in black:

Beppo knew that he was to follow him again. This
time the princess was to go along. The tall man in black
led the way, and Beppo and the princess followed along
the secret passage and up and down the stairs until at last
they came out into the garden again.

And now the evening was beginning to fall.

The man led the way down the garden to the river, and
still Beppo and the princess followed him.

124.