I made the above remark, as I had often thought that such was Melchior's
idea.

"Yes," continued he, "every man has his destiny--such must be the case.
It is known beforehand what is to happen to us by an Omniscient Being,
and being known, what is it but destiny which cannot be changed? It is
_fate_," continued he, surveying the stars with his hand raised up, "and
that fate is as surely written there as the sun shines upon us; but the
great book is sealed, because it would not add to our happiness."

"If, then, all is destiny, or fate, what inducement is there to do well
or ill?" replied I. "We may commit all acts of evil, and say, that as it
was predestined, we could not help it. Besides would it be just that the
Omniscient Being should punish us for those crimes which we cannot
prevent, and which are allotted to us by destiny?"

"Japhet, you argue well; but you are in error, because, like most of
those of the Christian Church, you understand not the sacred writings,
nor did I until I knew my wife. Her creed is, I believe, correct; and
what is more, adds weight to the truths of the Bible."

"I thought that gipsies had no religion."

"You are not the only one who supposes so. It is true that the majority
of the tribe are held by the higher castes as serfs, and are not
instructed; but with--if I may use the expression--the aristocracy of
them it is very different, and their creed I have adopted."

"I should wish to hear their creed," replied I.

"Hear it then. Original sin commenced in heaven--when the angels
rebelled against their God--not on earth."

"I will grant that sin originated first in heaven."

"Do you think that a great, a good God, ever created any being for its
destruction and eternal misery, much less an angel? Did he not foresee
their rebellion?"

"I grant it."

"This world was not peopled with the image of God until after the fall
of the angels: it had its living beings, its monsters perhaps, but not a
race of men with eternal souls. But it was peopled, as we see it now is,
to enable the legions of angels who fell to return to their former happy
state--as a pilgrimage by which they might obtain their pardons, and
resume their seats in heaven. Not a child is born, but the soul of some
fallen cherub enters into the body to work out its salvation. Many do,
many do not, and then they have their task to recommence anew; for the
spirit once created is immortal, and cannot be destroyed; and the
Al