in the young man paid no heed.

'Let us go in, ancient dame,' but she interrupted him.

'You must call me the Lady Berberisca,' she answered, sharply; 'and
this is my castle, to which I bid you welcome. You shall live here
with me and be my husband.' But at these words the knight let his
spear fall, so surprised was he.

'I marry _you_? why you must be a hundred at least!' cried he. 'You
are mad! All I desire is to inspect the castle and then go.' As he
spoke he heard the voices give a mocking laugh; but the old woman took
no notice, and only bade the knight follow her.

Old though she was, it seemed impossible to tire her. There was no
room, however small, she did not lead him into, and each room was full
of curious things he had never seen before.

At length they came to a stone staircase, which was so dark that you
could not see your hand if you held it up before your face.

'I have kept my most precious treasure till the last,' said the old
woman; 'but let me go first, for the stairs are steep, and you might
easily break your leg.' So on she went, now and then calling back to
the young man in the darkness. But he did not know that she had
slipped aside into a recess, till suddenly he put his foot on a trap
door which gave way under him, and he fell down, down, as many good
knights had done before him, and his voice joined the echoes of
theirs.

'So you would not marry me!' chuckled the old witch. 'Ha! ha! Ha! ha!'

* * * * *

Meanwhile his brother had wandered far and wide, and at last he
wandered back to the same great city where the other young knight had
met with so many adventures. He noticed, with amazement, that as he
walked through the streets the guards drew themselves up in line, and
saluted him, and the drummers played the royal march; but he was still
more bewildered when several servants in livery ran up to him and told
him that the princess was sure something terrible had befallen him,
and had made herself ill with weeping. At last it occurred to him that
once more he had been taken for his brother. 'I had better say
nothing,' thought he; 'perhaps I shall be able to help him after all.'

So he suffered himself to be borne in triumph to the palace, where the
princess threw herself into his arms.

'And so you did go to the castle?' she asked.

'Yes, of course I did,' answered he.

'And what did you see there?'

'I am forbidden to tell you anything about it,