The Tangled Skein

There are many accounts still extant of the various doings at East Molesey Fair on this 2ndof October in the year of our Lord 1553, and several chroniclers-Renard is conspicuousamong the latter-make mention of the events which very nearly turned the gay andvarying comedies of that day into weird and tragic drama. Certainly the witch's tent was a mistake. But what would you? No doubt the worthy individual, who for purposes of mystificationcalled himself "Abra," had tried many means of earning a livelihood before he and hisassociate in business took to the lucrative, yet dangerous trade of necromancy. He was tall and gaunt, with hooked nose and deep-sunk eyes; he had cultivated a long, greybeard, and could call forth the powers of Mirrab the Witch with a remarkably solemn andguttural voice. As for Mirrab herself, no one was allowed to see her. That was part of the business. She wasa witch, a dealer in magic potions, charms and philters, a reader of the stars, and-softly beit spoken-a friend and companion of the devil! She only appeared enveloped in a thickveil, with divining wand held lightly in her hand, the ends of her gold tresses alone visiblebelow the heavy covering which swathed her head. It was the mystery of it all-cheap devices at best-which from the first had irritated thecountry-folk who thronged the Fair.