linville, as the Italian
began to interpret the boy's gesture.

'Pretty maidens, he says, serve fair ladies--bear tokens for them. This
damsel has once been the bearer of a bouquet of heather of the pink and
white, whose bells were to ring hope.'

'Eh, eh, Madame, it is true?' cried Veronique, crimson with surprise and
alarm. 'M. le Baron knows it is true.'

Berenger had started at this revelation, and uttered an inarticulate
exclamation; but at that moment the boy, in whose hand his master
had placed a crown from the money newly paid, began to make vehement
gestures, which the main interpreted. '_Le Balafre_, he says, pardon
me, gentlemen, _le Balafre_ could reveal even a deeper scar of the
heart than of the visage'--and the boy's brown hand was pressed on his
heart--'yet truly there is yet hope (_esperance_) to be found. Yes'--as
the boy put his hand to his neck--'he bears a pearl, parted from its
sister pearls. Where they are, there is hope. Who can miss Hope, who has
sought it at a royal death-bed?'

'Ah, where is it?' Berenger could not help exclaiming.

'Sir,' said the pedlar, 'as I told Messieurs and Mesdames before,
the spirits that cast the lights of the future on the dark pool need
invocation. Ere he can answer M. le Baron's demands, he and I must have
time and seclusion. If Monsieur le Chevalier will grant us an empty
room, there will we answer all queries on which the spirits will throw
light.'

'And how am I to know that you will not bring the devil to shatter the
castle, my friend?' demanded the Chevalier. 'Or more likely still, that
you are not laughing all the time at these credulous boys and ladies?'

'Of that, sir, you may here convince yourself,' said the mountebank,
putting into his hand a sort of credential in Italian, signed by
Renato di Milano, the Queen's perfumer, testifying to the skill of his
compatriot Ercole Stizzito both in perfumery, cosmetics, and in the
secrets of occult sciences.

The Chevalier was no Italian scholar, and his daughter interpreted the
scroll to him, in a rapid low voice, adding, 'I have had many dealings
with Rene of Milan, father. I know he speaks sooth. There can be no harm
in letting the poor man play out his play--all the castle servants will
be frantic to have their fortunes told.'

'I must speak with the fellow first, daughter,' said the Chevalier. 'He
must satisfy me that he has no unlawful dealings that could bring the
Church down on us.' And he looked