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The table was often furnished also with a fountain, in which drinking-water was kept, and upon which either stood or hung cups or goblets. These fountains were often of fantastic shapes, and usually enamelled. One is described as representing a dragon on a tree top, and another a castle on a hill, with a convenient tap at some point for drawing off the water.
'I recognise the god of poetry and light, said Tancred; 'Phoebus Apollo. 'Our god: the god of Antioch, the god of the sacred grove! Who could look upon him, and doubt his deity! 'Is this indeed the figure, murmured Tancred, 'before which a hundred steers have bled? before which libations of honeyed wine were poured from golden goblets? that lived in a heaven of incense? 'Ah! you know all.
And Salvette lifts him up with the tenderness of a mother. He fills the goblets, cuts the bread, and then they drink and talk of Provençe. Little by little Bernadou grows animated and moved by the occasion, the white wine, the remembrances! With that child-like manner which the sick find in the depths of their feebleness he asks Salvette to sing a Provençal Noël.
"Know now that I have had made by the Church jeweller Peccard, two large dolls, exactly resembling this lady and myself. Now when hard-pressed by the drugs which I have put in their goblets, they desire to mount the throne to which we are now about to pretend to go, they will always find the place taken; by this means you will enjoy their writhings."
The waiting-maids were going the round now with gilt basins and cloths of fine white linen for the cleansing and drying of fingers between the courses; others, in the meanwhile, filled the crystal goblets with red or white wine as the guests desired. "We can talk now," said the host; "these slaves will not heed us.
Little Miss Ducely whispered to Lieutenant Faucon: "Those are American students," she sighed; "how jolly they seem to be, especially Mr Clifford! I wonder if she is so pretty!" Half a dozen riotous Frenchmen in the box opposite jumped to their feet and waved their goblets at Clifford. "A la plus jolie femme du monde!" they roared. Clifford seized another glass and filled it.
"Johnson," said he sharply, "this is disgraceful. What's that fellow's name?" pointing to Absalom. The landlord of course didn't know was very sorry. "I can tell 'ee, zur," said a voice, almost a childish treble, and old Tim crept out from whence he had been sipping up the forsaken goblets. "It be Absalom White it be."
"The king will soon be here," called out the head-steward of the table, of the great court-lords, to the king's cup-bearer, who was a member of the royal family. "Are all the wine-jugs full, has the wine been tasted, are the goblets ranged in order, and the skins sent by Polykrates, have they been emptied?"
Haward, in green, with rich lace at throat and wrist, was there before him, walking up and down in the cheerful light of a fire kindled against the dampness. "No sign of our men," he said, as the other entered. "Come to the fire. Faith, Colonel, my russet and gold becomes you mightily! Juba took you the aqua vitæ?" "Ay, in one of your great silver goblets, with a forest of mint atop.
At length all were seated, whereupon the prince gave a signal, on which a number of footmen came forward carrying a table laden with dainty food in solid gold dishes, and wines in goblets of precious stones which they placed on the platform before the prince and princess.
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