Chapter 4 Summary

Signor Achmet walks into the stables. Agba jumps up expecting to be in trouble for not reporting about the foal's birth but Signor Achmet is busy examining the foal. He shouts out, "the wheat ear" (pg. 34). Agba looks closely and sees what the chief grooming is talking about. Agba sees the cross-graining of hairs that closely resemble a ripened beard of wheat, on the foal's chest. Signor Achmet exclaims the wheat ear foretells of evil. He claims that he should have known this would happen, because he was forewarned by the droning of the bittern last night and the yellow-eyed owl. Signor Achmet proclaims that ill luck will come to the foal and to the royal stables.

Agba rushes to point out the white spot on the foal's heel. Signor Achmet acknowledges the sign of swiftness and realizes that the bad sign and...