ONE day Count Lucanor conversed with Patronio in the following manner:-

"Patronio, a man came and told me he possessed a secret which would enable me to acquire great riches and honour, but that to begin the work certain sums of money would be required; and this being furnished, he promised to return me tenfold on my outlay. Now, since God has blessed you with a good understanding, tell me what you think most desirable to be done under such circumstances."

"My lord, " said Patronio, "in order that you may know how to act, having regard for your own interest, under such circumstances, I should like to inform you what happened to a king with a man who called himself an alchemist."

The Count desired him to relate it.

"There was once," said he, " a man who being a great adventurer desired by some means or other to enrich himself and rise out of the miserable situation in which he then was. Knowing of a certain King who taxed his people heavily, and was very anxious to acquire a knowledge of alchemy, he procured a hundred doblas and filed them down, mixing the gold dust so procured with other metals, and from this alloy he made a hundred false coins, each weighing as much as a dobla. He then took a supply of these spurious coins, dressed himself as a quiet and respetable man, and went to the city where the King dwelt, and, entering the shop of a grocer, sold to him the whole of his counterfeits for about two or three doblas. The purchaser inquired the name and use of these coins, to which he replied, `They are essential to the practice of alchemy, and are called tabardit."

"Now, our adventurer continued to reside in this city for some time as respectable and well-dressed man, and it became circulated as a secret that he knew the science of alchemy. When this news reached the King, he sent for him ans asked if he were alchemist."

"He, however, appeared as if anxious to conceal his knowledge, and replied that he was not, but ultimately admitted that he was, at the same time telling the King that not great outlay was required; but that, if his Majesty desired it, he could furnish him with a few of the ingredients, and then show him all he knew of the science. This pleased the King very much, as it appeared, according to the alchemist's representations, that he would incur no risk. Our adventurer now sends, in the Kings name, for the things required, among them being the tabardit, which were easily procured at a cost of not more than three dineros, and when they were brought and melted down before the King there was produced the weight of a dobla of fine gold. The King, seeing that these materials which cost so little produced a dobla, was delighted, and told the alchemist that he considered him to be most worthy man, giving him an order to make more."

"Our adventurer replied, as if he had no more information to give, `Sire, all that I know I have shown to you, and henceforth you will be able to do it as well as myself. Nevertheless, should any of the ingredients be wanting, it will be quite impossible to produce gold.4Saying this, he departed for his own house."

"The King now procured some of the material himself, and made gold; he then doubled the quantity and produced the wight of two doblas; again doubling this quantity, he produced four doblas of gold; and so, in proportion, as he increased the weight of the materials, he produced an increase of gold. When the King saw that he could make any quantity of gold he desired, he ordered as much of the material to be brought him as would produce a thousand doblas. So the quantity was brought him as he desired, with the exception of the tabardit which could not be got. The King, seeing that the tabardit was wanting, and that without it he could not make gold, sent for the alchemist and told him he was unable to make gold as he had been accustomed to do."

"On this the alchemist begged to know if he had all the ingredients the same as hitherto."

"The King replied, `Yes, all except the taberdit."

"`Then,4said the alchemist, `although you have all theother things, yet, failing this one you cannot, as I told you at first, expect to make gold."

"The King then asked if he knew where to procure the tabardit, and he was answered in the affirmative; the King then requested that he procure for him a suffient quantity to make as much gold as he might desire."

"The alchemist now replied that any other person could obtain it as well as himself, and perhaps, better; but if the King particulary wished it, he would return for some to his own country, where he could procure any amount. The King then counted and found that, including all expenses, it would cost a large sum to procure this one ingredient, but he furnished our adventurer with the sum required and sent him on this service.

"As soon as the alchemist had received the money he went away in great haste, never to turn."

"When the King found that the alchemist remained away longer than he ought, he sent his servants to his house to know if there had been any tidings of him, but they found none whatever; but at his house was left a small chest which was locked; this they opened, and in it they found a paper on which was written, `I know well there is no such thing in the world as tabardit , but be assured that your Majesty has been deceived. When I came to you and said that I could enrich you, you ought to have said to me, "First enrich thyself, and then I will believe thee."

"Some days after this, some men were laughing and amusing themselves by writing the names and characters of their friends and acquaintances, saying, such and such were intelligent, such and such were foolish, and of others in like manner, good and bad. Amongs those classed as imprudent was found the name of the King. When the king heard of it, he sent for the authors of this writing, and, having assured them that no harm should come to them, demanded why they had palced his name amongst those of imprudent men. They answered him, `Because you have entrusted so much treasure to a stranger of whom you had not the least knowledge."

"The King replied that they were mistaken, for should the man return he would bring with him much gold."

"`Then, 4said they, `our opinion would lose nothing; for, should he return, we will erase your name and insert his."

"An you, Count Lucanor, if you do not wish to be considered a man of weak understanding, must not risk so much of your prperty for a thing that is uncertain; otherwise, you may have to reopent sacrificing the certain for the uncertain."

This advice pleased the Count much, so he acted upon it, and found the result good.

And Don Juan, seeing this to be a good example, ordered it to be written in this book, with these following line:-