.

"He had caused to be painted in his room a scroll surrounded by
illuminated keys and nymphs and tumbling cascades, and bearing the
words, 'Let us praise the art which conceals art; but let us love the
art which conceals power.'"

"What a monster!" cried the shepherd boy.

"In this way," said the spirits of the Seven Sisters, "has he lived. In
this way has he been able to keep us from our freedom, our lover. O
shepherd boy--"

Before another word could be spoken the shepherd boy was drawn up on the
rope. The water rose with him and lapped lightly over his person so that
he might seem as if he had been plunged deeply into the well.

When he was drawn up to the side or the well the shepherd boy lay on the
ground, his eyes closed, feigning great distress. The people again
clapped their hands, and some cried out, "Now little water rat, make us
a new verse!" But others murmured in pity, and an old peasant woman, in
a Breedeen cloak, hobbled to his side and smoothed back his locks. At
the touch of her soft hands the shepherd boy opened his eyes, and he saw
it was the daughter of the Keeper of the Key disguised. With the
connivance of her governess, she had escaped from the mansion as an old
peasant woman in a cloak. The shepherd boy secretly kissed her little
palms and whispered, "I must come to you at midnight. As you value your
life have the guards taken from the outer door, only for two minutes.
Make some pretext. I will give the shepherd's call and then you must
act. Do not fail me."

Before more could be said the servants roughly bundled the old peasant
woman aside, carried the shepherd boy to his lodgings, and there threw
him on his bed. "Remember," they said, "that you remain within the walls
of the town of the Seven Sisters after break of day at your peril."

At midnight the shepherd boy arose and approached the mansion of the
Keeper of the Key. He could see the two grim guards, one each side of
the oaken door. Standing some way off he gave the shepherd's call,
making his voice sound like the hoot of an owl. In a little time he saw
the guards move away from the door; they went to a side entrance in the
courtyard, and presently he could hear them laughing, as if some
entertainment was being provided for them; then measures were passed
through the iron bars of the gate to them, and these they raised to
their lips. At this the shepherd boy ran swiftly up the steps,
approached the door, and pressed three times,