been so profitable to him.

The diver, surprised to see him in this situation, asked the cause of
it. Kaskas related to him all that had happened since they parted.
This new confidant immediately addressed a petition to the King, in
which he implored the favour of being admitted into his presence, that
he might communicate to him a secret of the utmost importance. The
King caused the diver to be brought before him. He prostrated himself;
and the King, after having made him rise up, ordered him to
communicate the secret which he was to reveal.

"Great King," said the diver, "the greatness of your Majesty's soul,
and your love of justice, are known to all your subjects. I venture,
this day, to call upon these sublime virtues, in favour of an unhappy
innocent stranger, who has suffered an unjust punishment for a crime
which he did not commit, and who is still confined in the same dungeon
in which I have been shut up for a trifling fault. You love, sire, to
punish the wicked; but it is with the spirit of equity, and for the
maintenance of good order. Your Majesty would wish that the wolf and
the lamb should walk together securely; and it is the duty of your
slave to co-operate with your benevolent intentions, by putting it in
your power to repair an injustice committed against a man, persecuted
by his evil destiny, and worthy of your compassion."

He then entered into a minute detail of the adventure of Kaskas with
regard to the pearls. He showed him the circumstance which had led the
jeweller into a mistake, and occasioned the ignorance of the judge; in
fine, he added, "If your Majesty still suspects the truth of my
recital, you may cause the chief of the fishery, and my companions the
divers, to be interrogated concerning it."

The diver, having no interest in a matter that concerned only an
unfortunate and helpless man, spoke with that boldness and openness
which truth inspires. In the end, the monarch was convinced of the
innocence of the unfortunate Kaskas, and ordered the chief of the
eunuchs to set him at liberty, conduct him to the bath, and, after
having clothed him decently, to bring him into his presence.

The eunuch obeyed. Kaskas was led to the feet of the Sovereign, where
he confirmed the report of the diver. He told the fruitless efforts he
had made to undeceive the jeweller and remove the prejudice of the
judge. In a word, by the detail of all his adventures, he interested
the King so much, that he obt