"Indeed?" said the Count. "And how can you get across the marsh? You must know, Professor, that she pointed to an impassable swamp, a lake of liquid mud covered over with green grass. Last year a stag that I wounded plunged into this infernal marsh, and I watched him sink slowly, slowly.... In five minutes I saw only his horns, and soon he disappeared completely, two of my dogs with him." "But I am not heavy," said the old woman, chuckling. "I think you could cross the marsh easily on a broomstick." A flash of anger shone in the old woman's eyes. "Sir," she said, returning to the drawling and nasal twang of the beggar, "haven't you a pipe of tobacco to give a poor woman? Thou hadst better search for a passage through the swamp than go to Dowghielly," she added in a lower tone. "Dowghielly!" said the Count, reddening, "what do you mean?" I could not help noticing that this word produced a singular effect upon him. He was visibly embarrassed; he lowered his head in order to hide his confusion, and busied himself over opening the tobacco pouch which hung at the hilt of his hunting knife. "No, do not go to Dowghielly," repeated the old woman. "The little white dove is not for thee, is she, _Pirkuns_?" At that moment the snake's head appeared out of the collar of the old woman's cloak and stretched up to its mistress's ear. The reptile, trained doubtless to the trick, moved its jaws as though it spoke. "He says I am right," said the old woman. The Count gave her a handful of tobacco. "Do you know me?" he asked. "No, sir." "I am the master of Médintiltas. Come and see me one of these days; I will give you tobacco and brandy." The old woman kissed his hand and moved away with rapid strides. We soon lost sight of her. The Count remained thoughtful, tying and untying the fastenings of his bag, hardly conscious of what he was doing. "Professor," he said to me after a somewhat long silence, "you will laugh at me. That old crone knew both me and the road which she showed me better than she pretended.... After all, there is nothing so very surprising in that. I am as well known in this countryside as the white wolf. The jade has seen me several times on the road to Dowghielly Castle.... A marriageable young lady lives there, so she concluded that I was in love.... Then some handsome boy has bribed her to tell me bad luck.... It is obvious enough. Nevertheless, ... in spite of myself, her words have affected me. I am almost frightened by them.... You have cause to laugh.... The truth is that I intended to go and ask for dinner at the Castle of Dowghielly, and now I hesitate.... I am a great fool. Come, Professor, you decide it. Shall we go?" "In questions of marriage I never give advice," I said laughingly. "I take good care not to have an opinion." We had come back to our horses. "The horse shall choose for me," cried the Count, as he vaulted into the saddle and let the bridle lie slack.