And now she had another scrap of paper in her hand, on which was also written the word, Valentine!
"Well, and how has my little lady been amusing herself all this time?" asked Pirka, stroking pretty Michal's hands. "Has she not been wishing that her Pirka was with her again?"
Michal could not deny that she had.
"But those who believe in what the cards say," pursued Pirka, somewhat irrelevantly, "must pay for it, and those who do not believe must also pay, ay, and much more dearly too."
"Let us see!"
Michal crouched down beside Pirka on the mat, where the witch had spread the cards.
"Oh, oh! Great things are in store for us," began Pirka, pointing to the cards. "This here is the old vihodar, and that yonder is his son. Look, there's a coffin. Death threatens the old vihodar. The robbers will kill him."
"What nonsense," interrupted Michal.
"I don't say it. The cards say it. Victory and might await the young master. He kills the robber, and will be promoted to his father's place."
Michal laughed.