Sir Bale smiled, and shook his head dismally.
"It is very kind of you, Feltram; the idea shows a kindly disposition. I know you would do me a kindness if you could."
As Sir Bale, each looking in the other's eyes, repeated in this sentence the words "kind," "kindly," "kindness," a smile lighted Feltram's face with at each word an intenser light; and Sir Bale grew sombre in its glare; and when he had done speaking, Feltram's face also on a sudden darkened.
"I have found a fortune-teller in Cloostedd Wood. Look here."
And he drew from his pocket a leathern purse, which he placed on the table in his hand; and Sir Bale heard the pleasant clink of coin in it.
"A fortune-teller! You don't mean to say she gave you that?" said Sir Bale.
Feltram smiled again, and nodded.
"It was the custom to give the fortuneteller a trifle. It is a great improvement making her fee you," observed Sir Bale, with an approach to his old manner.
"He put that in my hand with a message," said Feltram.
"He? O, then it was a male fortune-teller!"