He again
raised his cane with the gravity of a Roman pontifex, marking off
his templum in the heavens. Suddenly he stopped. He repeated more
carefully his survey, and then turned his earnest eyes upon the
young soldier.
"You see ill-fortune for me, Doctor!" exclaimed Jumonville, with
bright, unflinching eyes, as he would look on danger of any kind.
"The Hyleg, or giver of life, is afflicted by Mars in the eighth
house, and Saturn is in evil aspect in the ascendant!" said the
Doctor slowly.
"That sounds warlike, and means fighting I suppose, Doctor. It is a
brave fortune for a soldier. Go on!" Jumonville was in earnest
now.
"The pars fortunae," continued the Doctor, gazing upward, "rejoices
in a benign aspect with Venus. Fame, true love, and immortality
will be yours, Jumonville de Villiers; but you will die young under
the flag of your country and for sake of your King! You will not
marry, but all the maids and matrons of New France will lament your
fate with tears, and from your death shall spring up the salvation
of your native land--how, I see not; but decretum est, Jumonville,
ask me no more!"
A thrill like a stream of electricity passed through the company.
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