Inwardly with satisfaction, and looked to see this foolish lad stricken with a

Palsy of guilty confusion. How surprised they were, then, to see nothing of the

Sort happen — how they marveled to hear him answer up promptly, in a

confident and untroubled voice, and say:

'There is naught in this riddle that is difficult.' Then, without so much as a by-

Your-leave to anybody, he turned and gave this command, with the easy

manner of one accustomed to doing such things: 'My Lord St. John, go you to

My private cabinet in the palace — for none knoweth the place better than

You — and, close down to the floor, in the left corner remotest from the door

That opens from the antechamber, you shall find in the wall a brazen nail-

Head; press upon it and a little jewel closet will fly open which not even you do

Know of — no, nor any soul else in all the world but me and the trusty artisan

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That did contrive it for me. The first thing that falleth under your eye will be

the Great Seal — fetch it hither.'

All the company wondered at this speech, and wondered still more to see the

Little mendicant pick out this peer without hesitancy or apparent fear of

Mistake, and call him by name with such a placidly convincing air of having

Known him all his life. The peer was almost surprised into obeying. He even

Made a movement as if to go, but quickly recovered his tranquil attitude and