"
Beppo came forward, and everybody stared. He came close to the
king, and the king laid his hand upon his shoulder. Then he
leaned over to Beppo and whispered in his ear: "A word, a word,
only a few words; if they be spoken ill, they are ill; if they be
spoken well, they are more precious than gold and jewels." Then
he laughed. "Is that what you would have me say?" said he.
"Yes, majesty," said Beppo, and he bowed low and withdrew.
But, lo and behold, what a change!
Suddenly he was transformed in the eyes of the whole world. The
crowd drew back to allow him to pass, and everybody bowed low as
he went along.
"Did you not see the king whisper to him," said one. "What could
it be that the king said?" said another. "This must be a new
favorite," said a third.
He had come into the palace Beppo the Foolish; he went forth
Beppo the Great Man, and all because of a few words the king had
whispered in his ear.
Three days passed, and then Beppo went again to the Goldsmith's
with the ring and a letter from the princess. This time Sebastian
the Goldsmith fitted him with a suit of splendid plum-colored
silk and gave him a dappled horse, and again Beppo and his two
attendants rode away to the palace. And this time every one knew
him, and as he went up the steps into the palace all present
bowed to him. The king saw him as soon as he appeared, and when
he caught sight of him he burst out laughing.
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