Page 37 - Doralice

arrived a famous astrologer, who, by studying
the courses of the various stars, could lay bare
the hidden mysteries of the past. When this
came to the ears of the king, he caused the
astrologer to be summoned forthwith, and,
when he was come into the royal presence,
demanded whether or not he could tell the
name of the murderer of the children. The

astrologer replied that he could, and
whispering secretly in the king's ear he said,
'Sire, let all the men and women of your court
who are wont to wear a dagger at their side be
summoned before you, and if amongst these
you shall find one whose dagger is befouled
with blood in its scabbard, that same will be

the murderer of your children.'
Wherefore the king at once gave command
that all his courtiers should present
themselves, and, when they were assembled,
he diligently searched with his own hands to
see if any one of them might have a bloody
dagger at his side, but he could find none.
Then he returned to the astrologer-who was
no other than Tebaldo himself- and told him

how his quest had been vain, and that all in the
palace, save his mother and the queen, had
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