alley to brush mud off his doublet, was aware that a man with keen
observant eyes was regarding him from the doorway of a wine-shop. The man
wore the cap and bells of a jester, and his fantastic costume was
gorgeously colored and ornamented. He was drinking a cup of wine, and when
that was finished he poured another for himself and began to sip it
slowly. Catching Giovanni's eye, he asked,

"What's in those great saddle-bags, my friend?"

Giovanni nearly jumped, for the question was in his own native dialect--
not only Lombard but the variety peculiar to Milan itself. But remembering
that he must not betray his blood he answered meekly, in French,

"I crave your pardon, master. I do not understand your question."

"I asked you," said the jester, "what you had in your luggage. It was an
idle question, but you might be a showman of Milan."

Giovanni laughed with mingled amusement and horror. "Milan, do you say? Is
it safe to say that name in Goslar? No, master, I am a poor showman from
Paris, asking only the opportunity to display my puppets before the great
folk. 'Tis a goodly show, I assure you, master--the play of the Ten
Virgins. Having but six lady-figures I am forced to make them serve for
the wise and the foolish virgins and the bride, but there are also a King,
who in this play is the bridegroom, the Merchant, the Monk, the Jester--
who is most amusing and can dance upon his head or his heels as you will.
The figures were carved by the most skilful wood-carvers of Paris, and the
play was written by a pious monk of the Benedictines." (Padraig the scribe
would have hooted at this.) "It is a most wise and diverting
entertainment, master, I do assure you." The jester seemed not to be