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"'At that's right. Now be off. By Cock! thou'rt a valiant mountebank and hast tickled us famously."

The little astrologer bowed, and bowed again, and withdrew amidst much laughter. Everyone was light hearted because of the good fortune he had told.

§ III

The servants went shouting and chattering back to the kitchens, full of the thought of Bess's wedding and the good cheer it would bring, though Bess herself did nothing but screech "twins in gemini! twins in gemini!" and run from the hugs and caresses of her sweetheart. The gentry returned to the privée, where the Squire poured out some wine.

"Here's to our success. He blessed our plans, Robert Douce—he foretold all that you've been telling me."

"And you believed him? That's wonderful. Foretelling is better than telling, then?"

The Squire looked uneasy.

"Surelye, I an't a child, and I don't believe what I'm told by mountebanks. But it was a valiant good fortune all the same."

"It wants no mountebank to tell there's iron at Conster. Earth and water both declare it, and, besides, it is a matter that hath been known for years."