"Because," he went on--and here he became embarrassed himself--"if you had--in fact, you'd do as you are, because you won't have to wear your hat. What I mean is, that now you _are_ here--I'd be awfully obliged if you'd be my best man--I'm to be married this morning. I say, there's the bell beginning to ring. Come on, Samuels." CHAPTER TEN. NEW LIGHT ON AN OLD FABLE. Part I. A DISCOVERY. What cannot one discover on an old bookstall? Who would have supposed I should have had the luck to pick up the extraordinary collection of newspaper-cuttings which are here presented to the reader? The extracts speak for themselves. They present in a moderately connected form the story of a famous epoch in English history, and shed a flood of light on transactions which have long since passed into the region of myth. Although the dates of months and days are given, the actual year to which the extracts refer is unfortunately left in obscurity. But from internal evidence, and certain references to current events, it is supposed that the date cannot have been later than the reign of King Arthur--or at any rate before the Saxon period. I may say that in reading over the present account and the mythological story of Jack the Giant Killer, I am struck by several discrepancies in the commonly received tradition, and in the account of the manners and customs of the times here revealed. I make no attempt to reconcile the two versions, though I am decidedly of opinion that of the two the present may be accepted by the reader as the more authentic. At any rate it is an editor's duty to give his story as he receives it, and to leave his readers to form their own conclusions. The following, then, is an exact transcript of the newspaper extracts to which we have referred: From the _Stilly Gazette_, June 30th. Despatches from the mainland report that the season is now in full swing. The charming seaside resorts on this attractive coast are crowded with visitors. It is remarked, as a singular indication of the uncertainties attending excursion traffic, that the proportion of arrivals is greatly in advance of the departures. This is particularly noticeable in the neighbourhood of Giants' Bay, where the well-known hospitality of the residents appears to have an extraordinary fascination for visitors. It is rumoured that although fresh arrivals take place daily, and no departures are announced, the number of visitors remains comparatively stationary, and the place has at no time been inconveniently crowded. Altogether there seems to be every prospect of a prosperous season. From the _Giants Bay Broadsheet_, July 2nd. Fashionable Arrivals.--Giant Blunderbore's Hotel: Sir Cap a Pie, Lady a Pie, the Misses a Pie, Master Hugh a Pie, and suite, from London; the Reverend Simon Cellarer, from Lincoln; Monsieur et Madame Froggi and infant, from Rouen, etcetera, etcetera.