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THE CLEVER NECROMANCER
gone the way of the wind, after the wonderful bits of colored fog.
Now the fair-haired maid who had stood awed in the market-place on the day when the enchanter came was a rich merchant's daughter, and her given name was Blanche. She was betrothed to one Hugh of a neighboring city, and he came often to Marmorante, lodging always at the sign of the Red Dragon. Thus had been his wooing, as he stood one day with the maid and her father by the lattice that looked forth on the street.
"Wilt have me?" he asked, and the words cost him much, for he was a man of plain speech, and oft of no speech at all.
The maid stood in the sunshine and looked upon him, and he thought her a
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