count soon turned part of it into money. From morning till evening the castle was thronged with jews and merchants who bargained for the costly jewels. The count redeemed his towns, gave his hunting castle in lease to one of his feoffers, went to inhabit his former residence, re-established his court, and lived thenceforth not a spendthrift, but a good husbandman, perhaps because he had no other daughter to sell. The noble pair would have found themselves in a very comfortable state, were it not that the countess was unable to console herself for the loss of her, daughters, for whom she wept in silence and always wore mourning. For some time she hoped again to see her Bertha and the pearl knight return, and as often as a stranger was announced at court she expected to see her son-in-law. At last the count could not let her any longer languish in vain hopes, and in the confidential bed-room, where many a man’s secrets are divulged, he confessed to her, that her splendid son-in-law was but a horrible fish. “Alas,” exclaimed she in agony, “have I borne children that they may become the prey of disgusting monsters! What is earthly happiness? what are treasures to a childless mother!” “Dear wife,” answered the count, “be consoled—it cannot
B 2
