our
ladyship's service?"

Endued as she was with a great share of that fortitude which is
distinguished by the appellation of effrontery, her face exhibited
some signs of shame and confusion at the receipt of this oracular
interrogation, by which she was convinced of his extraordinary
intelligence; and, accosting him in a very serious tone, "Doctor," said
she, "I perceive you are a person of great abilities in the art you
profess; and therefore, without pretending to dissemble, I will own you
have touched the true string of my apprehensions. I am persuaded I need
not be more particular in my inquiries. Here is a purse of money; take
it, and deliver me from a most alarming and uneasy suspense." So saying,
she deposited her offering upon the table, and waited for his answer,
with a face of fearful expectation, while he was employed in writing
this sentence for her perusal: "Though I see into the womb of time,
the prospect is not perfectly distinct: the seeds of future events lie
mingled and confused. So that I am under the necessity of assisting my
divination in some cases, by analogy and human intelligence; and cannot
possibly satisfy your present doubts, unless you will condescend to make
me privy to all those occurrences which you think might have interfered
with the cause of your apprehension."

The lady having read the declaration, affected a small emotion of
shyness and repugnance, and, seating herself upon a settee, after having
cautiously informed herself of the privacy of the apartment, gave such a
detail of the succession of her lovers, as amazed, while it entertained,
the necromancer, as well as his friend Pickle, who, from a closet
in which he had concealed himself, overheard every syllable of her
confession. Cadwallader listened to her story with a look of infinite
importance and sagacity, and, after a short pause, told her, that he
would not pretend to give a categorical answer, until he should have
deliberated maturely upon the various circumstances of the affair; but,
if she would take the trouble of honouring him with another visit on
his next public day, he hoped he should be able to give her full
satisfaction. Conscious of the importance of her doubts, she could
not help commending his caution, and took her leave, with a promise of
returning at the appointed time. Then the conjurer being joined by his
associate, they gave a loose to their mirth, which having indulged, they
began to concert measures fo