singular being--what was he? Clairvoyant, astrologer, what?"

"Astrologer--an Eastern astrologer--Achmet by name."

"And who, probably, never was further than London in his life-time. A
well-got-up charlatan, no doubt."

"Charlatan he may have been; Englishman he was not. His face, his
speech, convinced me of that. And, Olivia, charlatan or no, he told me
my past life as truly as I knew it myself."

Lady Kingsland listened with a quiet smile.

"No doubt he has been talking to the good people of the village and to
the servants in the house."

"Neither the people of the village nor the servants of the house know
aught of what he told me. He showed me what transpired twenty years
ago.

"Twenty years ago?"

"Yes, when I was fresh from Cambridge, and making my first tour.
Events that occurred in Spain--that no one under heaven save myself can
know of--he told me."

"That was strange!"

"Olivia, it was astounding--incomprehensible! I should never have
credited one word he said but for that. He told me the past as I know