y he was to become a great man.

At last Victor said he must leave his home, and sail across the seas.
Tears filled the eyes of Blanche; but the youth whispered,--

"I am going away to find a home for you and me: so adieu, dearest
Blanche!"

Now Victor thought the ship in which he sailed moved very slowly; for
he longed to reach the land which he could see through his magic
spectacles: it was a beautiful kingdom, rich with mines of gold and
silver.

When the ship touched shore, the streets were lined with people who
walked to and fro with sad faces. The king's daughter, a beautiful
young maiden, was very ill; and it was feared she must die.

Victor asked one of the people if there was no hope.

It so happened that this man was the greatest physician in the kingdom
and he answered,--

"Alas, there is no hope!"

Then Victor went to a distant forest where he knew a healing spring
was to be found. Very few remembered it was there; and those who had
seen it did not know of its power to heal disease.

Victor filled a crystal goblet with the precious water, and carried
it to the palace. The old king shook his head sadly, but consented to
let the attendants moisten the parched lips of the princess with the
water, as it could do no harm. Far from doing harm, it wrought a great
good; and, in time, the royal maiden was restored to health.

Then, for gratitude, the king would have given his daughter to Victor
for a wife; but Victor remembered Blanche, and knew that no other
maiden must be bride of his.

Not long after this, the king was lost overboard at sea during a
storm. Now the people must have a new ruler. They determined to choose
a wise and brave man; and, young as he was, no man could be found
braver and wiser than Victor: so the people elected him for their
king. Thus Fontana's gift of the eyes of Wisdom had made him truly
"one of the great men of earth."

In her humble home, Blanche dreamed every night of Victor, and hoped
he would grow good, if he did not become great; and Victor remembered
Blanche, and knew that her love was his dearest blessing.

"This old palace," thought he, "will never do for my beautiful bride."

So he called together his people, and told them he must have a castle
of gems. Some of the walls were to be of rubies, some of emeralds,
some of pearls. There was to be any amount of beaten gold for doors
and pillars; and the ceilings were to be of milk-white opals, with a
rosy light whic