The king burst out laughing. "Why," said he, "what is this foolish thing
you ask of me? If you had asked for a hundred pieces of gold you should
have had them. Think better, friend, and ask something of more worth
than this foolish thing."

"Please your majesty," said Beppo, "I ask nothing else."

The king laughed again. "Then you shall have what you ask," said he, and
he rode away.

The next morning the princess said to Beppo: "This day you shall go and
claim the king's promise of him. Take this ring and this letter again to
Sebastian the Goldsmith. He will fit you with clothes in which to appear
before the king. Then go to the king's palace that he may whisper those
words he has to say into your ear."

Once more Beppo went to Sebastian the Goldsmith, and the Goldsmith
kissed the princess's ring and letter, and read what she had written.

Again the black slaves took Beppo to the bath, only this time they clad
him in a fine suit of velvet and hung a gold chain around his neck.
After that Sebastian the Goldsmith again served a feast to Beppo, and
waited upon him while he ate and drank.

In front of the house a noble horse, as black as jet, was waiting to
carry Beppo to the palace, and two servants dressed in velvet livery
were waiting to attend him.

So Beppo rode away, and many people stopped to look at him.

He came to the palace, and the king was giving audience. Beppo went into
the great audience-chamber. It was full of people--lords and nobles and
rich merchants and lawyers.

Beppo did not know how to come to the king, so he stood there and waited
and waited. The people looked at him and whispered to one another: "Who
is that young man?" "Whence comes he?" Then one said: "Is not he
the young man who served the king with cakes and milk in the forest
yesterday?"

Beppo stood there gazing at the king. By-and-by the king suddenly looked
up and caught sight of him. He gazed at Beppo for a moment or two and
then he knew him. Then he smiled and beckoned to him.

"Aye, my foolish benefactor," said he, aloud, "is it thou, and art
thou come so soon to redeem thy promise? Very well; come hither, I have
something to say to thee."

Beppo came forward, and everybody stared. He came close to the king, and
the king laid his hand upon his shoulder. Then he leaned over to Beppo
and whispered in his ear: "A word, a word, only a few words; if they be
spoken ill, they are ill; if they be spoken well, they are more prec