am ruined!"

When his wife heard this, she said, "Who knows, husband, but this may
be a lizard with two tails, that will make our fortune? Who knows but
this lizard may put an end to all our miseries? How often, when we
should have an eagle's sight to discern the good luck that is running
to meet us, we have a cloth before our eyes and the cramp in our hands,
when we should lay hold on it. So go, take her away, for my heart tells
me that some good fortune awaits the poor little thing!"

These words comforted Masaniello; and the next morning, as soon as the
Sun with the brush of his rays whitewashed the Sky, which the shades of
night had blackened, he took the little girl by the hand, and led her
to the cave. Then the lizard came out, and taking the child gave the
father a bag full of crowns, saying, "Go now, be happy, for Renzolla
has found both father and mother."

Masaniello, overjoyed, thanked the lizard and went home to his wife.
There was money enough for portions to all the other daughters when
they married, and even then the old folks had sauce remaining for
themselves to enable them to swallow with relish the toils of life.

Then the lizard made a most beautiful palace for Renzolla, and brought
her up in such state and magnificence as would have dazzled the eyes of
any queen. She wanted for nothing. Her food was fit for a count, her
clothing for a princess. She had a hundred maidens to wait upon her,
and with such good treatment she grew as sturdy as an oak-tree.

It happened, as the King was out hunting in those parts, that night
overtook him, and as he stood looking round, not knowing where to lay
his head, he saw a candle shining in the palace. So he sent one of his
servants, to ask the owner to give him shelter. When the servant came
to the palace, the lizard appeared before him in the shape of a
beautiful lady; who, after hearing his message, said that his master
should be a thousand times welcome, and that neither bread nor knife
should there be wanting. The King, on hearing this reply, went to the
palace and was received like a cavalier. A hundred pages went out to
meet him, so that it looked like the funeral of a rich man. A hundred
other pages brought the dishes to the table. A hundred others made a
brave noise with musical instruments. But, above all, Renzolla served
the King and handed him drink with such grace that he drank more love
than wine.

When he had thus been so royally entertained, he