"You are old," said Antonio, "and death must come to all. Maybe it is a lie of the devil; but if not, face it as a man should." But the wizard trembled still; and Antonio, casting a pitiful glance on him, rose to depart. But on the instant as he moved, there came a sudden loud knocking at the door of the house, and he stood still. The wizard lifted his head to listen. "Have you had warning of more visitors to-night?" asked Antonio. "I know not what happens to-night," muttered the wizard. "My power is gone to-night." The knocking at the door came again, loud and impatient. "They will beat the door down if you do not open," said Antonio. "I will hide myself here behind the mirror; for I cannot pass them without being seen; and if I am seen here, it is like enough that the mirror will be proved right both for you and me." So Antonio hid himself, crouching down behind the mirror; and the wizard, having lit a small dim lamp, went on trembling feet to the door. And presently he came back, followed by two men whose faces were hid in their cloaks. One of them sat down, but the other stood and flung his cloak back over his shoulders; and Antonio, observing him from behind the mirror, saw that he was Lorenzo, the Duke's favourite. Then Lorenzo spoke to the wizard saying, "Why did you not come sooner to open the door?" "There was one here with me," said the wizard, whose air had become again composed. "And is he gone? For we would be alone." "He is not to be seen," answered the wizard. "Utterly alone here you cannot be." When he heard this, Lorenzo turned pale, for he did not love this midnight errand to the wizard's chamber. "But no man is here," said the wizard. A low hoarse laugh came from the man who sat. "Tricks of the trade, tricks of the trade!" said he; and Antonio started to hear his voice. "Be sure that where a prince, a courtier, and a cheat are together, the devil makes a fourth. But there is no need to turn pale over it, Lorenzo." When the wizard heard, he fell on his knees; for he knew that it was Duke Valentine who spoke. "Look you, fellow," pursued His Highness, "you owe me much thanks that you are not hanged already; for by putting an end to you I should please my clergy much and the Syndic of Baratesta not a little. But if you do not obey me to-night, you shall be dead before morning." "I shall not die unless it be written in the stars," said the wizard, but his voice trembled. "I know nothing of the stars," said the Duke, "but I know the mind of the Duke of Firmola, and that is enough for my purpose." And he rose and began to walk about the chamber, examining the strange objects that were there; and thus he came in front of the mirror, and stood within half a yard of Antonio. But Lorenzo stood where he was, and once he crossed himself secretly and unobserved. "What would my lord the Duke?" asked the wizard.