“Suppose, then,” he added, “that we admit the fact that the eye of a certain individual can transfuse, by the force of strong volition, an evil influence into the being or bodily system of another—­why should it happen that an eye or touch charged with beneficence, instead of evil, should fail to affect with a sanative contagion those who labor under many diseases?”

“The only reply I can make to your question,” said Woodward, “is this:  the one has been long and generally known to exist, whereas the latter has never been heard of, which most assuredly would not have been the case if it had ever existed; as for the cure of the King’s Evil it is a royal imposture.”

“I believe in the latter,” observed the other calmly.

“Upon what grounds?” asked his companion.

“Simply because I know a person who possesses the sanative power I speak of.”

“And I believe in the former,” replied Woodward, “and upon better grounds still, because I possess it myself.”

“You will pardon me,” said the other; “but I hesitate to believe that.”

Woodward, who felt this imputation against his veracity with resentment, suddenly pulled up his horse, and, turning himself on the saddle, looked upon his companion with an expression that was as extraordinary as it was blighting.  The stranger, on the other hand, reining in his horse, and taking exactly the same attitude as Woodward, bent his eye on him in return; and there they sat opposite to each other, where we will leave them until we describe the somewhat extraordinary man who had become the fellow-traveller of the hero of the breakfast table.

[Illustration:  Page 631—­ The gaze was long and combative]

He was mounted upon a powerful charger; for indeed it was evident at a glance that no other would have been equal to his weight.  He was well-dressed—­that is to say, in the garb of a country gentleman of the day.  He wore his own hair, however, which fell in long masses over his shoulders, and a falling collar, which came down over his breast.  His person was robust and healthy looking, and, what is not very usual in large men, it was remarkable for the most consummate proportion and symmetry.  He wore boots and silver spurs, and his feet were unusually small, considering his size, as were also his hands.  That, however, which struck the beholder with amazement, was the manly beauty of his features.  At a first glance this was visible; but on contemplating them more closely you began to feel something strange and wonderful associated with a feeling of veneration and pleasure.  Even this, however, was comparatively little to what a still more deliberate perusal of that face brought to light.  There could be read that extraordinary union of humility and grandeur; but above all, and beyond all other expressions, there proceeded from his eyes, and radiated like a halo from every part of his countenance, a sense of power which was felt