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Then she heard a laugh—careless and heavy. That girl laughed like a ploughboy, and she alone, of all the company, was not afraid.

Ho! Ho! Ho!

"This is he, I understand, Who killed the blue spider in Blanchpowder Land."

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Catherine laughed again when the magician's cap was on. He looked more seedy and comical than ever with the great black sugar-loaf upon his head. He did not mind her laughing, because she had spoken kindly and had taken his part. He would tell her a fine fortune. He would tell them all a fine fortune, for the matter of that. He knew his business too well to go croaking of sorrow and sickness and death.

"My lords, ladies, gentlemen and good folk all. Harken to the Magus, pupil of that illustrious doctor Polimackeroeplacidus of Switzerland, Doctor of Philosophy, Astrology, Alchemy and Virtue——"

"Who's that, fellow?" interrupted the Squire. "The doctor or thyself?"

"Nobody, Master. 'Tis only a piece I say to begin——"

"Leave it out. Reckon we'll have had enough lies without it."