wid edged tools, and he'll be apt
to find it so, if he attempts to put his tricks upon the conjurer."

In the meantime, while that gentleman was seated above stairs, a female,
tall, slim, and considerably advanced in years, entered the room and
took her seat. Her face was thin, and red in complexion, especially
about the point of a rather long nose, where the color appeared to be
considerably deeper in hue.

"Sir," said she, in a sharp tone of voice, "I'm told you can tell
fortunes."

"Certainly, madam," he replied, you have been correctly informed."

"You won't be offended, then, if I wish to ask you a question or two.
It's not about myself, but a sister of mine, who is--ahem--what the
censorious world is pleased to call an old maid."

"Why did your sister not come herself?" he asked; "I cannot predict
anything unless the individual is before me; I must have him or her, as
the case may be, under my eye."

"Bless me, sir! I didn't know that; but as I am now here--could you tell
me anything about myself?"

"I could tell you many things," replied the conjurer, who read old maid
in every line of her face--"many things not very pleasant for you to
reflect upon."

"O, but I don't wish to hear anything unpleasant," said she; "tell me
something that's agreeable."

"In the first place, I cannot do so," he replied; "I must be guided
by truth. You have, for instance, been guilty of great cruelty; and
although you are but a young woman, in the very bloom of life--"

Here the lady bowed to him, and simpered--her thin, red nose twisted
into a gracious curl, as thanking him for his politeness.

"In the very prime of life, madam--yet you have much to be accountable
for, in consequence of your very heartless cruelty to the male sex--you
see, madam, and you feel too, that I speak truth."

The lady put the spectre of an old fan up to her withered visage, and
pretended to enact a blush of admission.

"Well, sir," she replied, "I--I--I cannot say but that--indeed I have
been charged with--not that it--cruelty--I mean--was ever in my heart;
but you must admit, sir, that--that--in fact--where too many press, upon
a person, it is the more difficult choose."

"Unquestionably; but you should have, made a judicious selection--and
that was because you were in no hurry--and indeed you need not be; you
have plenty of time before you. Still, there is much blame attached to
you--you have defrauded society of its rights. Why, now, you