Don Horacio 



their mistake ; but I strongly assured 

 them that in the absence of the genu- 

 ine thino- the mistaken substitute 

 would be very acceptable, especially 

 because it is quite consistent with the 

 spirit of the original story that they 

 who seek the " Helmet of Mambrino," 

 whether in gold or brass, may find 

 the thing they are not looking for. 

 Don Quixote sought a helmet of gold 

 and found a brazen basin ; and we, 

 seeking brass, have found copper. 

 Moreover, it is said that the en- 

 chanted golden helmet of Mambrino 

 made its wearer invisible ; and it 

 seems most fit that the brass basin 

 of Don Horacio should mysteriously 

 vanish with its departing owner, who 

 might, indeed, have wished it to be 

 buried with him. 



The search for the helmet may still 



go on ; and while awaiting the return 



of Don Horacio's elusive basin, we 



may as well, perhaps, adopt for its 



114 



