As the two gentlemen approached, the villagers, who knew Joshua, made
way a little, and a pretty, keen-eyed gipsy girl tripped up and asked to
tell their fortunes. Joshua held out his hand, but the girl, without
seeming to see it, stared at his face in a very odd manner. Gerald
nudged him:

'You must cross her hand with silver,' he said. 'It is one of the most
important parts of the mystery.' Joshua took from his pocket a
half-crown and held it out to her, but, without looking at it, she
answered:

'You have to cross the gipsy's hand with gold.'

Gerald laughed. 'You are at a premium as a subject,' he said. Joshua was
of the kind of man--the universal kind--who can tolerate being stared at
by a pretty girl; so, with some little deliberation, he answered:

'All right; here you are, my pretty girl; but you must give me a real
good fortune for it,' and he handed her a half sovereign, which she
took, saying:

'It is not for me to give good fortune or bad, but only to read what the
Stars have said.' She took his right hand and turned it palm upward; but
the instant her eyes met it she dropped it as though it had been red
hot, and, with a startled look, glided swiftly away. Lifting the curtain
of the large tent, which occupied the centre of the camp, she
disappeared within.

'Sold again!' said the cynical Gerald. Joshua stood a little amazed, and