am, with shrewdness enough to see that while civilization
and enlightenment would only pay her twenty dollars a month, and
superstition and ignorance would give her twice that sum in a
week, she couldn't, of course, afford to live in a civilized and
enlightened neighborhood, and depend exclusively on civilization
and enlightenment for a living.
And Johannes was smitten, he had found her, and if his fortune
was propitious he would yet win and wed the Brazilian astrologist,
and she should have the honor of paying his debt, and earning his
bread and butter. But he would make no advances yet for fear of
accidents; he would not commit himself until he had called upon
the rest of the witches on his list, to see, if perchance, he
might not find one more eligible. If not, then by all means
Madame Carzo should be the chosen one. The first thing evidently
was to ascertain her proficiency in the magic arts.
The sorceress and the anxious inquirer seated themselves face to
face, and the following dialogue ensued: "Do you wish to consult
me, Sir?" "Yes."
"My terms are a dollar for gentlemen."
The expected dollar was handed over, when the 'cute Yankeeism of
the Brazilian lady blazed out brilliantly, for she instantly
produced a "Thompson's Bank-note Detector" from under a pillow,
and a one dollar note, issued by the President and Directors of
the "Quinnipiack Bank" of Connecticut, underwent a severe
scrutiny. At last the genuineness of the bill and the solvency of
the bank were certified to the Madame's satisfaction, in his
oracular pamphlet, by Thompson with a "p," and Madame Carzo was
evidently satisfied that her customer didn't mean to swindle her,
but was good for small debts not exceeding one dollar each.
Accordingly she took his left hand, regarded it for some time,
apparently delighted with its model symmetry, but at last so far
conquered her silent admiration as to speak and say:
"You were born under two planets, Moon and Mars, Moon brings you
a great deal of trouble in the early part of your life. Moon has
occasioned a great deal of anxiety to your parents on your
account. Moon made you liable to accidents and misfortunes while
you was a boy, and Moon will give you great trouble until you
arrive at middle age. You were born, I should say, across the
water, and you will die across the water in a city, but not a
great city. You are, I should say, now far away from that city,
and from your home, and parents, and fri
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