He bade them be seated, and then he spoke as follows:
"Many years ago, when my father reigned over this country, there lived a mighty magician. He was very rich, much richer than my father, and very proud. His wife was dead, and he lived with an only daughter, who was said to be very beautiful but very bad-tempered.
"My father had never seen them, but my grandfather had often told him that this magician, who was called Xystipos, might come to pay a visit as soon as his daughter was fully grown up.
"But alas! there came a great sickness, and my father and mother both died and left me to reign alone.
"Now there lived in a country not far from here a princess, the daughter of my father's old friend the king of that country. Both her parents and my parents wished us to marry, and indeed we were both willing, for we loved one another.
"When I became King I paid a visit to their country, and the marriage was then arranged to take place in a few weeks.
"But shortly after my return a messenger arrived who announced that Xystipos was on his way to pay me a visit. He arrived the next day. Nobody saw him enter the castle, or knew how he had travelled such a great distance.
"He was a tall, dark man, with a long black beard and eyes which glowed like fire. His voice was deep and mysterious. He spoke but seldom, and seemed as if he could read one's very thoughts.
"I wondered why he had come, until one day he said to me: 'Why have you not married? This country needs a queen.'