ealing by no excess of virtue.

These remarks apply to the "sporting men," by profession--to those
plausible gallows-birds who have no other ostensible means of
getting a living. There are many men who sometimes spend an hour
or two at a faro table, or who occasionally pass an evening in
gambling at some other game, who do all fairly, and are above all
suspicion of foul play; these persons are of course plundered by
sharpers who surround them, and are called "good fellows" because
they submit to their losses without grumbling.

The "sporting men" all have mistresses, on whom they sometimes
rely for funds whenever an "unlucky hit," or a "bad streak of
luck," has run their own purses low.

It is not part of the present purpose of this book to give
particulars as to who and what their mistresses are, further than
to state that at least one or two of the "Witches" described
herein, officiate in that capacity. It is true, that the most of
them are not of a style to tempt the lust of any man, but there
are certain exceptions to the general rule, and in one or two
instances the "Individual" found the fortune-teller to be comely
and pleasant to the eye. As these women generally have plenty of
money, they are very eligible partners for gamblers, who are
liable to as many reverses as ever Mr. Micawber encountered, and
who, when once down, might remain perpetually floored, did not
some kind friend set them on their financial feet again.

And this is one of the duties of the monied mistress. When the
"sporting man" is in funds, no one is more recklessly extravagant
than he, and no one cuts a greater dash than his "ladye-love," if
he chooses so to do; but when the cards run cross, and the purse
is empty, it devolves upon her to furnish the capital to start in
the world again.

The fact is well known to those who have taken the trouble to
inquire into the subject, that several of the more fashionable
fortune-tellers of the city sustain this sort of illicit relation
to certain "sporting men," whose faces a man may see, perhaps,
half a dozen times in the course of a lounge up and down
Broadway of a pleasant afternoon.

Madame Clifton is, on the whole, a comely woman, and does a good
business, but of course no sane person will think of applying
these remarks personally to that respected matron.

The "Individual" paid a lengthened visit to Madame Clifton, and
his remarks are recorded below. Because he met a sleek,
close-shaved