On one occasion while such a feast was in progress Richberta was informed that a stranger was waiting without who was desirous of speaking with her.  When she was told that the man had come all the way from a distant land simply to admire her wonderful treasures, of which he had heard so much, the maiden was highly flattered and gave orders that he should be admitted without delay.  An aged and decrepit man, clad in a picturesque Eastern costume, was led into the room, and Richberta bade him be seated at her side.  He expected to receive from the young lady the symbol of welcome—­bread and salt.  But no such common fare was to be found on her table—­all was rich and luxurious food.

The stranger seated himself in silence.  At length he began to talk.  He had travelled in many lands, and now he told of his changing fortunes in these far-off countries, always drawing a moral from his adventures—­that all things earthly were evanescent as the dews of morning.  The company listened attentively to the discourse of the sage; all, that is, but their hostess, who was angry and disappointed that he had said no word of the wealth and magnificence displayed in her palace, the rich fare on her table, and all the signs of luxury with which he was surrounded.  At length she could conceal her chagrin no longer, and asked the stranger directly whether he had ever seen such splendour in his wanderings as that he now beheld.

“Tell me,” she said, “is there to be found in the courts of your Eastern kings such rare treasures as these of mine?”

“Nay,” replied the sage, “they have no pearls and rich embroideries to match thine.  Nevertheless, there is one thing missing from your board, and that the best and most valuable of all earthly gifts.”

In vain Richberta begged that he would tell her what that most precious of treasures might be.  He answered all her inquiries in an evasive manner, and at last, when her question could no longer be evaded, he rose abruptly and left the room.  And, seek as she might, Richberta could find no trace of her mysterious visitor.

Richberta strove to discover the meaning of the old man’s words.  She was rich—­she possessed greater treasures than any in Stavoren, at a time when that city was among the wealthiest in Europe—­and yet she lacked the most precious of earth’s treasures.  The memory of the words galled her pride and excited her curiosity to an extraordinary pitch.  In vain she asked the wise men of her time—­the priests and philosophers—­to read her the riddle of the mysterious traveller.  None could name a treasure that was not already hers.