Certes, Master Alwyn," he added, turning to the goldsmith, "this achievement maybe readily performed, and hath existed, I heard an ingenious Fleming say years ago, for many ages amongst a strange people [Query, the Chinese ?] known to the Venetians! But dost thou think there is much appetite among those who govern the State to lend encouragement to such matters ?" "My master serves my Lord Hastings, the king's chamberlain, and my lord has often been pleased to converse with me, so that I venture to say, from my knowledge of his affection to all excellent craft and lere, that whatever will tend to make men wiser will have his countenance and favour with the king." "That is it, that is it!" exclaimed Adam, rubbing his hands.

"My invention shall not die!" "And that invention--" "Is one that will multiply exemplars of books without hands; works of craft without 'prentice or journeyman; will move wagons and litters without horses; will direct ships without sails; will--But, alack! it is not yet complete, and, for want of means, it never may be." Sibyll still kept her animated countenance fixed on Alwyn, whose intelligence she had already detected, and was charmed with the profound attention with which he listened.

But her eye glancing from his sharp features to the handsome, honest face of the Nevile, the contrast was so forcible, that she could not restrain her laughter, though, the moment after, a keen pang shot through her heart.

The worthy Marmaduke had been in the act of conveying his cup to his lips; the cup stood arrested midway, his jaws dropped, his eyes opened to their widest extent, an expression of the most evident consternation and dismay spoke in every feature; and when he heard the merry laugh of Sibyll, he pushed his stool from her as far as he well could, and surveyed her with a look of mingled fear and pity.
"Alas! thou art sure my poor father is a wizard now ?" "Pardie!" answered the Nevile.

"Hath he not said so?
Hath he not spoken of wagons without horses, ships without sails?
And is not all this what every dissour and jongleur tells us of in his stories of Merlin?
Gentle maiden," he added earnestly, drawing nearer to her, and whispering in a voice of much simple pathos, "thou art young, and I owe thee much.
Take care of thyself.