Adventures and adventurers > Narrative of the extraordinary adventures of four Russian sailors

IS
King and Fairy Ring.
would soon find himself plunged into great
difiiculties, if he did not make use of the
ring which she then put on his finger. When
he turned the stone of the ring to the inside
of his hand, he became invisible; and when
he turned the diamond outward, he became
visible again.
He was mightily pleased with the present,
and soon grewsensibleof the inestimablevalue
of it,. When he suspected any one of his su b-
jects, he went into that man’s house and clo¬
set, with his diamond turned inward, and
heard and saw all the secrets of the family,
without being perceived. When he mistrust¬
ed the designs of any neighbouring potentate,
he would take a long journey unaccompani¬
ed, to be present in his most private counsels,
and learn every thing, without the fear of
being discovered. By this means, he easily
prevented every intention to his prejudice;
he frustrated several conspiracies formed a-
gainst his person, and disconcerted all the
measures of his enemies for his overthrow.
Nevertheless, he was not thoroughly satis¬
fied %vith his ring; and he requested of the
fairy the power of conveying himself, in an
instant, from one country to another, that he
might make a more convenient and ready use
of the enchanted ring. The fairy replied,
“ You ask too much; let me conjure you not
to covet a power, which I foresee will one