Page:The Enchanted Knights; or The Chronicle of the Three Sisters.djvu/89

Rh —a cause which I must conceal.” This speech perplexed Udo; he was unable to conceive how human perception could discern inmost thoughts, and he tried as best he might to arrange matters, saying:—“Thoughts, my friend, are free of duty. If I were led into error, let it be so, you have not been called to account for it. The best explanation you can give to me is to tell the reasons for your secret grief.”—“Be it so,” replied Waidewuth, “I understand astrology, and out of friendship, drawing your destiny from the stars, I found that you have to meet a sad change of fortune; this is the sole reason of my melancholy—if you want to know more, listen.” “Stop!” cried Udo to the prophet of evil. “Your countenance forebodes nought good; you sympathize with my misfortunes, and I thank you; but refrain from announcing them, lest my evil star should torture me beforehand.” The messenger of evil was silent. Udo dismissed him with many gifts, in token of his esteem, and feelings of sincere friendship. The stranger disappeared, and none knew which way he had taken.

Scarcely had a few months glid away before a terrible war-cry was heard approaching from the continent; it was rumoured that Cruco, king of the Obo-