wealth. Melchior, it appeared, gained money in three different
characters; as a quack doctor, the character in which we first saw him;
secondly, as a juggler, in which art he was most expert; and thirdly, as
a fortune-teller, and _wise man_.

Nattée, as I before mentioned, was of very high rank, or caste, in her
tribe. At her first espousal of Melchior she lost much of her influence,
as it was considered a degradation; but she was then very young, and
must have been most beautiful. The talents of Melchior, and her own
spirit, however, soon enabled her to regain, and even add still more to,
her power and consideration among the tribe, and it was incredible to
what extent, with the means which she possessed, this power was
augmented.

Melchior had no children by his marriage, and, as far as I could judge
from the few words which would escape from the lips of Nattée, she did
not wish for any, as the race would not be considered pure. The
subdivision of the tribe which followed Nattée, consisted of about
forty, men, women, and children. These were ruled by her during the
absence of her husband, who alternately assumed different characters, as
suited his purpose; but in whatever town Melchior might happen to be,
Nattée and her tribe were never far off, and always encamped within
communication.

I ventured to question Melchior about the little Fleta; and he stated
that she was the child of a soldier's wife, who had been brought to bed,
and died a few hours afterwards; that, at the time, she was on her way
to join her husband, and had been taken ill on the road--had been
assisted by Nattée and her companions, as far as they were able--had
been buried by them, and that the child had been reared in the camp.