I believe I have seen the Moorish king, Marsilia, and once when reading how the dying Roland wound his horn in the valley of the Roncesvalles, I felt such a pain in my throat, that it seemed as if it would burst, and fancied I had felt the same pain before.

When I frankly acknowledged all this, my companion exclaimed that there was no doubt my soul had once inhabited Roland's body, or in other words, that in a former life I had been the Knight Roland." The musician looked at the fencing-master in amazement and asked: "Could you really believe that, Captain ?" "Why not," replied the other.

"Nothing is impossible to the Highest.

At first I laughed in the man's face, but his words followed me; and when I read the old stories--I needn't strain my eyes much, for at every line I know beforehand what the next will be--I couldn't help asking myself--In short, sir, my soul probably once inhabited Roland's body, and that's why I call him my 'fore man.' In the course of years, it has become a habit to swear by him.

Folly, you will think, but I know what I know, and now I must go.