Don Horacio 



seek the Helmet of Mambrino, in 

 the province of La Mancha. In 1885 

 he sent to Mr. Cutter the barber's 

 basin he found there, together with 

 the formal letter accompanying his 

 gift. This letter, not originally in- 

 tended for publication, was printed 

 in the Century Magazine the follow- 

 ing year, in May, 1886, addressed to 

 " Don Horacio." The originally fin- 

 ished manuscript, engrossed on large 

 paper and bound in silk which was 

 cut from a robe of the period of Cer- 

 vantes, was kept as a precious treasure 

 by Don Horacio during his lifetime, 

 and was found by friends after his 

 death among his most valued effects 

 in the barely furnished upper-room 

 in which he lodged. 



But perhaps the most precious thing 

 on earth to Don Horacio was the Hel- 

 met of Mambrino, the barber's basin. 

 He kept it carefully in his room, to 

 be seen occasionally by rare visitors, 

 96 



