e duel he had accepted, his marriage and the power that held sway over
his life, that he might keep off the threatening terror which had
hitherto kept him far from brother and parents?

It was a matter that must be well considered and reflected upon.

Lorand became very meditative some days later.

Once after dinner Czipra grasped his hand and said playfully:

"You are thinking very deeply about something. You are pale. Come, I
will tell you your fortune."

"My fortune?"

"Of course: I shall read the cards for you: you know

"'A gypsy woman was my mother,
Taught me to read the cards of fortune,
In that surpassing many wishes.'"

"Very well, my dear Czipra: then tell me my fortune."

Czipra was delighted to be able to see Lorand once more alone in her
strange room. She made him sit down on the velvet camp-stool, took her
place on the tiger-skin and drew her cards from her pocket. For two
years she had always had them by her. They were her sole counsellors,
friends, science, faith, worship--the sooth-saying cards.

A person, especially a woman, must believe something!

At first she shuffled the cards, then, placing them on her hand offered
them to Lorand.

"Here they are, cut them: the one, whose future is being told, must cut.
Not with the left hand, that is not good. With the right hand, towards
you."

Lorand did so, to please her.

Czipra piled the cards in packs before her.

Then, resting her elbows on her knees and laying her beautiful
sun-goldened face upon her hand she very carefully examined the
well-known picture-cards.

The knave of hearts came just in the middle.

"Some journey is before you," the gypsy girl began to explain, with a
serious face. "You will meet the mourning woman. Great delight. The
queen of hearts is in the same row:--well met. But the queen of
jealousy[68] and the murderer[68] stand between them and separate them.
The dog[68] means faithfulness, the cat[68] slyness. The queen of
melancholy stands beside the dog.--Take care of yourself, for some
woman, who is angered, wishes to kill you."

[Footnote 68: These prophecies are made with Magyar cards and the gypsy
girl pointing at certain cards, gives an interpretation of her own to
them.]

Lorand looked with such a pitying glance at Czipra that she could not
help reading the young man's thoughts.

She too replied tacitly. She pressed three fingers to her bosom, and
silently intimated that she was not "that"