scribed Aneouta to them both, so
that they might know her at once should they meet her. My countenance
had been so altered by the dye and paint that I looked quite an old man,
and no one could possibly recognise me. Whatever may be the faults of
the Zingari, they may be safely trusted with the secrets committed to
their tribe; therefore, though every one in the encampment knew my
object, I had no fears of being betrayed.

"Many a good wish was uttered as we three set off together on horseback.
The chief had furnished me with a strong, active steed, which would
carry Aneouta as well as me, should I be so fortunate as to be able to
bear her off unperceived. We rode on till we came to a copse, a quarter
of a verst or so from the house of the young Barin.

"Minetta and I then dismounting, left the horses under charge of her
brother, and sauntering along in an unconcerned way, we approached the
house. I had agreed to feign to be dumb, lest the tone of my voice
should betray me. Thus I knew I should be perfectly safe from
detection, and even Aneouta would not know me. Our difficulty was to
learn where she could be found. Eagerly I cast my eyes about in every
direction, expecting to see her among the work-people in the fields, but
nowhere did she appear. Minetta had a good excuse to go among them, to
offer to tell the girls their fortunes. They were not unaccustomed to
such visits, apparently, for they smiled and laughed as she talked to
them, and willingly held out their hands that she might read their fate
by the marks on their palms. She cleverly adapted her promises
according to the age and appearance of each, and seemed to give
universal satisfaction. After she had gained their confidence, she
began to put questions to them, to which they seemed fully willing to
reply. First she spoke to one; then to another a little way off; and
what the first told her she made use of with surprising facility, as if
she had been long informed of it, to draw information from the second.
I listened with painful eagerness to all that was said to her, but for a
long time she could elicit nothing which could give me information about
Aneouta. At length she got nearer to the subject.

"`Surely all the girls of the estate are not in the fields to-day?' she
said. `Not long ago I heard weeping and moaning, as from one in pain or
grief. The sounds came a long, long way through the air, even to where
I then was standing, many verst