'Your hand must be crossed with gold.'
'A hundred per cent. at this game,' whispered Gerald, as Joshua laidanother half sovereign on his upturned palm.
The gipsy looked at the hand with knitted brows; then suddenly lookingup into his face, said:
'Have you a strong will--have you a true heart that can be brave forone you love?'
'I hope so; but I am afraid I have not vanity enough to say "yes".'
'Then I will answer for you; for I read resolution in yourface--resolution desperate and determined if need be. You have a wifeyou love?'
'Yes,' emphatically.
'Then leave her at once--never see her face again. Go from her now,while love is fresh and your heart is free from wicked intent. Goquick--go far, and never see her face again!'
Joshua drew away his hand quickly, and said, 'Thank you!' stiffly butsarcastically, as he began to move away.
'I say!' said Gerald, 'you're not going like that, old man; no use inbeing indignant with the Stars or their prophet--and, moreover, yoursovereign--what of it? At least, hear the matter out.'
'Silence, ribald!' commanded the Queen, 'you know not what you do. Lethim go--and go ignorant, if he will not be warned.'
Joshua immediately turned back. 'At all events, we will see this thingout,' he said. 'Now, madam, you have given me advice, but I paid for afortune.'
'Be warned!' said the gipsy. 'The Stars have been silent for long; letthe mystery still wrap them round.'
'My dear madam, I do not get within touch of a mystery every day, andI prefer for my money knowledge rather than ignorance. I can get thelatter commodity for nothing when I want any of it.'
Gerald echoed the sentiment. 'As for me I have a large and unsaleablestock on hand.'
The gipsy Queen eyed the two men sternly, and then said: 'As you wish.You have chosen for yourself, and have met warning with scorn, andappeal with levity. On your own heads be the doom!'
'Amen!' said Gerald.
With an imperious gesture the Queen took Joshua's hand again, andbegan to tell his fortune.
'I see here the flowing of blood; it will flow before long; it isrunning in my sight. It flows through the broken circle of a severedring.'
'Go on!' said Joshua, smiling. Gerald was silent.
'Must I speak plainer?'
'Certainly; we commonplace mortals want something definite. The Starsare a long way off, and their words get somewhat dulled in themessage.'
The gipsy shuddered, and then spoke impressively. 'This is the hand ofa murderer--the murderer of his wife!' She dropped the hand and turnedaway.
Joshua laughed. 'Do you know,' said he, 'I think if I were you Ishould prophesy some jurisprudence into my system. For instance, yousay "this hand is the hand of a murderer." Well, whatever it may be inthe future--or potentially--it is at present not one. You ought togive your prophecy in such terms as "the hand which will be amurderer's", or, rather, "the hand of one who will be the murderer ofhis wife". The Stars are really not good on technical questions.'
The gipsy made no reply of any kind, but, with drooping head anddespondent mien, walked slowly to
her tent, and, lifting the curtain,disappeared.
Without speaking the two men turned homewards, and walked across themoor. Presently, after some little hesitation, Gerald spoke.
'Of course, old man, this is all a joke; a ghastly one, but still ajoke. But would it not be well to keep it to ourselves?'
'How do you mean?'
'Well, not tell your wife. It might alarm her.'