dry study," remarked he, as he looked admiringly on
the tall, charming figure and frank countenance of the girl before him.

"The querent," said he gravely, "is tall, straight, slender, arms long,
hands and feet of the smallest, hair just short of blackness,
piercing, roving eyes, dark as night and full of fire, sight quick, and
temperament alive with energy, wit, and sense."

"Oh, tell my fortune, not my character! I shall shame of energy, wit,
and sense, if I hear such flattery, Doctor!" exclaimed she, shaking
herself like a young eagle preparing to fly.

"We shall see what comes of it, Hortense!" replied he gravely, as with
his gold-headed cane he slowly quartered the heavens like an ancient
augur, and noted the planets in their houses. The doctor was quite
serious, and even Hortense, catching his looks, stood very silent as he
studied the celestial aspects,

"Carrying through ether in perpetual round
Decrees and resolutions of the Gods."

"The Lord of the ascendant," said he, "is with the Lord of the seventh
in the tenth house. The querent, therefore, shall marry the man made for
her, but not the man of her youthful hope and her first love.

"The stars are true," continued he, speaking to himself rather than to
her. "Jupiter in the seventh house denotes rank and dignity by marriage,
and Mars in sextile foretells successful wars. It is wonderful,
Hortense! The blood of Beauharnais shall sit on thrones more than one;
it shall rule France, Italy, and Flanders, but not New France, for
Saturn in quintile looks darkly upon the twins who rule America!"

"Come, Jumonville," exclaimed Hortense, "congratulate Claude on the
greatness awaiting the house of Beauharnais, and condole with me that I
am to see none of it myself! I do not care for kings and queens in the
third generation, but I do care for happy fortune in the present for
those I know and love! Come, Jumonville, have your fortune told now,
to keep me in countenance. If the Doctor hits the truth for you I shall
believe in him for myself."

"That is a good idea, Hortense," replied Jumonville; "I long ago hung my
hat on the stars--let the Doctor try if he can find it."

The Doctor, in great good humor, surveyed the dark, handsome face and
lithe, athletic figure of Jumonville de Villiers. He again raised his
cane with the gravity of a Roman pontifex, marking off his templum in
the heavens. Suddenly he stopped. He repeated more carefully his surve