"Well then, read it as it comes!" said Oswald
"Much happiness, and yet not happy," murmured the gypsy. "The enemy of men and the friend of women; quick to hate, quick to love; varied life, early death."
"Well," said Oswald, "I do not object to that. But how about the women? I am interested in that."
"Much good, much evil," repeated the woman, bending still lower over the hand, as if she did not wish the faintest line to escape her. "Much love, very much love, and yet so little happiness, ah! so little!"
"Am I in love now?"
"Yes."
"And with whom?"
"A very great lady, very beautiful and very rich."
"Hm! And does she love me?"
"More, far more, than you love her."