Later, she bent her piercing eyes upon the Prince and refused to read his future, shrilly asserting that she had not the courage to tell what might befall the little ruler, all the while muttering something about the two little princes who had died in a tower ages and ages ago.

Seeing that the boy was frightened, Tullis withdrew him to the background.

The Countess Marlanx, who had returned that morning to Edelweiss as mysteriously as she had left, came next.

She was smiling derisively.
"You have just returned from a visit to some one whom you hate," began the Witch.

"He is your husband.