He had not more than lodged her in his apartments, however, before she was decoyed away by a trick, and borne off against her will by a young gallant, who had seen her and been smitten by her charms.

Dromio, returning, and finding his mistress gone, gave way to the most poignant grief.

He ran up and down the city, seeking her in every place, and filling all places with his lamentations; but for a time in vain, until chance led him to a certain street, where, in an almost incredible manner, he found a clew to her by discovering underfoot a knot of velvet, bearing Phyllida's name wrought on it in delicate needlework, with the words, "A moi!"' 'Sanctus!' cried the king, amid a general murmur of surprise, 'that is well devised! Proceed, sir.

Go on like that, and we will make your twenty men twenty-five.' 'Dromio,' I continued, 'at sight of this trifle experienced the most diverse emotions, for while he possessed in it a clew to his mistress's fate, he had still to use it so as to discover the place whither she had been hurried.

It occurred to him at last to begin his search with the house before which the knot had lain.