"What is it?" said the young man, looking down rather shyly.
"You that have travelled far and wide, can you tell me who speaks all the languages of this world?"
"Who speaks all the languages of this world?" echoed Uros, lifting up his eyes, astonished, and then lowering them, feeling Milena's glances parch up his blood.
He tried to think, but his poor head was muddled, and his heart was beating just as if it would burst. He had never been good at guessing, but now it was worse than ever.
"I've heard of people speaking three, four, and five languages, but I've never heard of anyone speaking more than five."
"What! You've been in foreign countries," quoth she, smiling archly, and displaying her pearly teeth, "and still you cannot answer my question?"
"I cannot, indeed. There was a man who said he spoke twenty-five languages, but, of course, he was a humbug. First, there are not twenty-five languages in the world, and then he couldn't even speak Slav."
"Well, well; think over it till to-morrow."
"Well, I shall not eat you up as the dragon, that Marko Kraglievic killed, used to do, if people couldn't answer the questions he put them."
"And you'll tell me?" Thereupon he lifted up his eyes yearningly towards her.
"Perhaps," she replied, blushing, "but then, you must promise not to ask Milenko."
She stretched forth her hand. He pressed it lingeringly.
He bade her good-bye, and went off with a heavy heart; she saw him disappear with a sigh.
That whole day Uros thought a little of the riddle, and a great deal of Milena's sparkling eyes; moreover, he felt the pressure of her soft hand upon his palm. But the more he pondered over her question, the more confused his brain grew, so he gave up thinking of the riddle, and continued thinking of the young woman. On the morrow his excitement increased, as the time of hearing the answer drew near.
Milena, as usual, was on the watch for him, leaning on the door-post, looking more beautiful than ever. As soon as he saw her, he hurried up to her without being called.
"Well," said she, with a nervous smile, "have you guessed?"
"Oh, you silly fellow! Who speaks all the languages of the world?"
"What will you give me if I tell you?" said she, in a low, fluttering voice, and with a visible effort.