n is
gone off wid them too."

"O, O," said the conjurer, "that makes the matter worse."

"No, it doesn't, sir, for what makes the matter worse is, that they took
away a hundred and thirty pounds of my money along wid 'em."

"Then you wish to know what I can do for you in this business?"

"I do, sir, i' you plaise."

"Were you ever jealous of your wife before?"

"No, not exactly jealous, sir, but a little suspicious or so; I didn't
think it safe to let her out much; I thought it no harm to keep my eye
on her."

"Now," said the conjurer, "is it not notorious that you are the most
jealous--by the way, give me five shillings; I can make no further
communications till I am paid; there--thank you--now, is it not
notorious that you are one of the most jealous old scoundrels in the
whole country?"

"No, sir, barrin' a little wholesome suspicion."

"Well, sir, go home about your business. Your daughter and the dancing
master's son have made a runaway match of it, and your wife, to protect
the character of her daughter, has gone with them. You are a miser, too.
Go home now; I have nothing more to say to you, except that you have
been yourself a profligate. Look at that book, sir; there it is; the
stars have told me so."

"You have got my five shillings, sir; but say what you like, all
the wather in the ocean wouldn't wash her clear of the ould
dancin'-masther."

In the course of a few minutes a beautiful peasant girl entered the
room, her face mantled with blushes, and took her seat on the chair as
the others had done, and remained for some time silent, and apparently
panting with agitation.

"What is your name, my pretty girl?" asked the conjurer.

"Grace Davoren," replied the girl.

"And what do you wish to know from me, Miss Davoren?"

"O, don't call me miss, sir; I'm but a poor girl."

The conjurer looked into his book for a few minutes, and then, raising
his head, and fixing his eyes upon her, replied--

"Yes, I will call you miss, because I have looked into your fate, and I
see that there is great good fortune before you."

The young creature blushed again and smiled with something like
confidence, but seemed rather at a loss what to say, or how to proceed.

"From your extraordinary beauty you must have a great many admirers,
Miss Davoren."

"But only two, sir, that gives me any trouble--one of them is a--"

The conjurer raised his hand as an intimation to her to stop, and after
poring once more