“For one who wears the cloak can fly Like any eagle in the sky. And one did wish, by sudden freak, His dog be granted power to speak; And now the beast can talk as well As I, and also read and spell. And—” “Stop!” cried the queen, with sudden excitement. “Do you lie, minstrel, or are you speaking the truth?” Secretly glad that his news was received thus eagerly, Quavo continued to twang the harp as he replied in verse: “Now may I die at break of day, If false is any word I say.” “And what is this cloak like—and who owns it?” demanded the queen, impetuously. Sang the minstrel: “The cloak belongs to Princess Fluff; ’Tis woven of some secret stuff Which makes it gleam with splendor bright That fills beholders with delight.” Thereafter the beautiful Zixi remained lost in thought, her dainty chin resting within the hollow of her hand and her eyes dreamily fixed upon the minstrel. [Illustration: “SHE MADE A SOLEMN VOW THAT SHE WOULD SECURE THE MAGIC CLOAK WITHIN A YEAR.”] And Quavo, judging that his news had brought him into rare favor, told more and more wonderful tales of the magic cloak, some of which were true, while others were mere inventions of his own; for newsmongers, as every one knows, were ever unable to stick to facts since the world began. All the courtiers and officers and servants listened with wide eyes and parted lips to the song, marveling greatly at what they had heard. And when it was finally ended, and the evening far spent, Queen Zixi threw a golden chain to the minstrel as a reward and left the hall, attended by her maidens. Throughout the night which followed, she tossed sleeplessly upon her bed, thinking of the magic cloak and longing to possess it. And when the morning sun rose over the horizon, she made a solemn vow that she would secure the magic cloak within a year, even if it cost her the half of her kingdom. Now the reason for this rash vow, showing Zixi’s intense desire to possess the cloak, was very peculiar. Although she had been an adept at witchcraft for more than six hundred years, and was able to retain her health and remain in appearance young and beautiful, there was one thing her art was unable to deceive, and that one thing was a mirror. [Illustration: “QUEEN ZIXI LEFT THE HALL ATTENDED BY HER MAIDENS.”] To mortal eyes Zixi was charming and attractive; yet her reflection in a mirror showed to her an ugly old hag, bald of head, wrinkled, with toothless gums and withered, sunken cheeks. For this reason the queen had no mirror of any sort about the palace. Even from her own dressing-room the mirror had been banished, and she depended upon her maids and hair-dressers to make her look as lovely as possible. She knew she was beautiful in appearance to others; her maids declared it continually, and in all eyes she truly read admiration.