lady." He took a mass of soiled, curiously painted cards, and spread
them out before him on the table. He took the hand of Fraulein Lethow
and seemed to read it earnestly; and now, in a low, musical voice, he
related little incidents of the past. They were piquant little anecdotes
which had been secretly whispered at the court, but which no one dared
to speak aloud, as Fraulein Lethow passed for a model of virtue and
piety.

She received these developments of the prophet with visible scorn. In
place of laughing, and by smiling indifference bringing their truth in
question, she was excited and angry, and thus prepared for the princess
some gay and happy moments.

"I dare not decide," said Amelia, as the prophet ceased, "whether what
you have told is true or false. Fraulein Lethow alone can know that;
but she will not be so cruel as to call you an impostor, for that would
prevent me from having my fortune told. Allow me, therefore, to believe
that you have spoken the truth. Now take your cards and shuffle them."

"Does your highness wish that I should tell you of the past?" said the
soothsayer, in a sharp voice.

The princess hesitated. "Yes," said she, "of my past. But no; I will
first hear a little chapter out of the life of my chaste and modest
Louise. Now, now, madame, you have nothing to fear; you are pure and
innocent, and this little recitation of your by-gone days will seem to
us a chapter from 'La Pucelle d'Orleans.'"

"I dare to oppose myself to this lecture," said Louise, laughing. "There
are books which should only be read in solitude, and to that class
belong the volumes of my past life. I am ready in the presence of
your highness to have my future prophesied, but of my past I will hear
nothing--I know too much already."

"Had I been alone with Fraulein Lethow, I should have told her many
other things, and she would have been forced to believe in my power.
Only when these cards are under your eyes is my spirit clear."

"I must, then, in order to know the whole truth from you, be entirely
alone?" said the princess.

The prophet bowed silently. Amelia fixed a piercing glance upon him, and
nodded to her ladies.

"Go into the next room," said she. "And now," said the princess, "you
can begin."

The magician, instead of taking the cards, knelt before the princess and
kissed the hem of her robe. "I pray for mercy and forgiveness," said
he; "I am nothing but a poor impostor! In order to reach the prese