Sir Otto had retired to his chamber, that he might lay aside his armour, and array himself in a garb suited to the brilliant festival of his betrothment, after which the Lady Gabrielle would make her public appearance as his bride. His apartment was ere long crowded by squires of high and low degree, who were sent by the damsel to attend him, bearing rich presents of gold chains, rings, plumes of variegated feathers, and other adornments. In the confusion of his triumph and happiness, which seemed, as it were, reflected by the glittering apparel and cheerful looks of all around him, he did not think of Theobaldo’s absence, till he found himself alone at the entrance of another chamber, in which the Lady Gabrielle had appointed him to meet her, in order that they might walk from thence together into the magnificent banquet-hall. With his heart full of the delights which were so richly poured out around him, he could willingly have had some confidential friend with whom he could share his emotions, and was lost in surprise at Theobaldo’s long absence. At length the merchant made his appearance; but dressed so strangely, and in such gay and varied colours, that Sir Otto scarcely knew him at his first entrance. Perceiving this, “You are in the right,” said Theobaldo; “I am, indeed, changed in my outward garb; but in this world all is changeable. Look here, for example, whether you could recognise the knight of the black and silver armour in the figure which is now before you.” With these words he had placed Sir Otto before a great mirror; wherein, for the first time, he beheld his own person arrayed in a style of such glittering magnificence, that he blushed and was confounded. His blooming youthful countenance was half lost in the folds of a rich embroidered ruff;--under a green barret cap, clustered his golden hair, richly perfumed, and shining almost as brightly as the magnificent _agratte_ which held together the waving plumes of his head-gear. Moreover, he had a white velvet doublet, of which the slashes were adorned with green and gold; it was fitted tight to his shape; and round his waist was a golden sword-belt; while from his shoulders hung, in graceful folds, a short green mantle, trimmed with ermine and pearls. “Well,” said Theobaldo, with somewhat of irony in his smile, “that is, methinks, no dress fitted for a pilgrimage into the Holy Land.” “As little could’st thou say,” answered Sir Otto, “that the dress which thou now wearest is that of a crusader.” “Pardon me, noble sir,” said Theobaldo; “mine is still a travelling garb; and though, indeed, I shall take a circuitous route, I shall yet wear this mantle on my voyage into the Holy Land. I now bear the colours of the Count de Vinciguerra, which, as you know, are, according to Italian fashion, somewhat over gay and motley, and with him I shall in a few minutes set out on our journey homewards to my native land, where, at Naples,