ad served two years in His Majesty's cavalry and
thoroughly understood these accomplishments. He was also an adept in the
manufacture of whistles from willow twigs, in the training of dogs,
falcons and ferrets, in snaring birds, in the capture of butterflies and
in skipping stones.

He had already begun to teach Philip--his master's son, a bright boy of
five--all these accomplishments. He had some knowledge of medicine also;
and, as he had spent much of his life in the fields, he had become
acquainted with the names and properties of many plants and herbs; and
this knowledge had often been called into requisition for the benefit of
many of the people as well as the animals of the neighborhood. Never had
his skill been needed more than now, for poor Tiepoletta had not
recovered consciousness, and her rigidity and the ghastly pallor which
had overspread her features seemed to indicate that she had already been
struck with death.

Anxious to resuscitate her, Coursegol set energetically to work, but not
without emotion. It was the first time he had ever exercised his skill
on a woman, and this pure and lovely face had made a deep impression on
his heart. He would willingly have given a generous share of his own
blood to hear Tiepoletta speak, to see her smile upon him.

"Look, sir," said he, "how beautiful she is! She certainly cannot be
twenty years old. Her skin is as fine as satin, and what hair! Could
anything be more lovely?"

While he spoke, Coursegol was endeavoring to unclose the teeth of the
gypsy in order to introduce a few drops of warm, sweetened wine through
her pallid lips. Then he rubbed the feet of the unfortunate woman
vigorously with hot flannels.

"They are sore and swollen!" he added. "She must have come a long
distance!"

"Is she recovering?" asked the Marquis, who stood by, watching
Coursegol's efforts.

"I do not know; but see, sir, it seemed to me that she moved."

The Marquis came nearer. As he did so Tiepoletta opened her eyes. She
looked anxiously about her, then faintly murmured a few words in a
strange tongue.

"She speaks," said the Marquis, "but what does she say? She seems
frightened and distressed."

"She wishes to see her child," exclaimed Coursegol, departing on the
run.

During his absence Tiepoletta regained her senses sufficiently to
recollect what had happened; but she was so weak that she could scarcely
speak. Still, when Coursegol appeared with the child in his arms, s