point of maid-servants, young girls from the
country, governesses, in short, of all the floating womanhood of the
land--for 'it declares that you will shortly be married to a person
who will--MEND your CIRCUMSTANCES.' The trey of clubs is scarcely less
exhilarating, for it promises that you will be married three times, and
each time to a wealthy person. On the whole the suit of clubs is
very lucky, but, very appropriately, the deuce thereof portends some
'unfortunate opposition to your favourite inclination, which will
disturb you.'(80)

(80) According to other authorities, the ace of clubs means a letter;
the nine, danger caused by drunkenness; the eight, danger from
covetousness; the seven, a prison, and danger from the opposite sex;
the six, competence by hard-working industry; the five, a happy but NOT
wealthy marriage; the four, danger of misfortunes caused by inconstancy
or capricious temper; the trey, quarrels.

The suit of diamonds is by no means so satisfactory as the gem of a
name would seem to indicate; but perhaps we must remember that this suit
represented originally the COMMERCIAL CLASSES, and that probably this
divination by cards was invented by some proud ARISTOCRAT in those
times when tradesmen did not stand so high as they now do in morality,
uprightness, &c. The ace of diamonds puts you on the qui vive for the
postman; it means a LETTER. It is only to be hoped that it is not one
of those nasty things, yellow outside and blue within--a dun from some
importunate butcher, baker, grocer, or--tailor. The king of diamonds
shows a revengeful, fiery, obstinate fellow of very fair complexion in
your circle; the queen of diamonds is nothing but a gay coquette, of the
same complexion as the king, and not 'over-virtuous'--a very odd phrase
in use for the absence of virtue altogether; the knave of diamonds is
a selfish, impracticable fellow; ten of diamonds is one of the few
exceptions to the evil omens of this suit, it promises a country husband
or a wife with great wealth and many children--the number of the latter
being indicated by the next card to it; it also signifies a purse
of gold--but where? Oh, where? Nine of diamonds indicates simply a
vagabond, full of vexation and disappointment; eight of diamonds shows
an enemy to marriage, who may, however, 'marry late,' and find himself
in a terrible 'fix;' seven of diamonds is worse still, portending all
the horrors of the divorce court and the bankruptcy co