TWILIGHT LAND

the town and inquire for Sebastian the Goldsmith. He
will know what to do.”

Beppo took the ring and the letter and started off to
town, and it was not hard for him to find the man he
sought, for every one knew of Sebastian the Goldsmith.
He was an old man, with a great white beard and a fore-
head like the dome of a temple. He looked at Beppo

from head to foot with eyes as bright as those of a snake ; —

then he took the ring and the letter. As soon as he
saw the ring he raised it to his lips and kissed it; then
he kissed the letter also ; then he opened it and read it.

He turned to Beppo and bowed very low. “My lord,”
said he, “I will do as 1 am commanded. Will you be
pleased to follow me?”

He led the way into an inner room. There were soft
rugs upon the floor, and around the walls were tapestries.
There were couches and silken cushions. Beppo won-
dered what it all meant.

Sebastian the Goldsmith clapped his hands together.
A door opened, and there came three black slaves into the
room. The Goldsmith spoke to them in a strange lan-
guage, and the chief of the three black slaves bowed in
reply, Then he and the others led Beppo into another
room where there was a marble bath of tepid water.
They bathed him and rubbed him with soft linen towels ;
then they shaved the beard from his cheeks and chin
and trimmed’ his hair; then they clothed him in fine
linen and a plain suit of grey, and Beppo looked like a
new man.

Then when all this was done the chief of the blacks
conducted Beppo back to Sebastian the Goldsmith. There
was a fine feast spread, with fruit and wine. Beppo sat

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