-"at the same time I must be as prudent about myself, for certain
reasons, which I will explain some day if you wish it--as Miss Crawford
has been about her carriage. Oblige me by remaining at the table here
and trifling with some creams, chocolate and a few bon-bons, while I
leave you for a few minutes--not more than fifteen or twenty. At the end
of that time I shall be ready to accompany you."

Giving the necessary orders and throwing a bill to the waiter, Tom
Leslie passed rapidly out into the street and walked quite as rapidly up
Broadway, until he turned again down Broome Street, which he had quitted
with Harding but a little while before. Had he _more_ to do with the
Police?

CHAPTER XII.

FORTUNE-TELLING AND OTHER SUPERSTITIONS--THE EVERY-DAY OMENS THAT WE
HALF BELIEVE--ORIGINS OF THIS WEAKNESS--FORTUNE-TELLERS OF NEW YORK,
BOSTON AND WASHINGTON.

While Tom Leslie has gone around to Broome Street on his undeclared
errand, and while the ladies are making an excuse to while away the time
until his return, in the discussion of the after-dinner provocatives to
indigestion recommended, let us enter a little more closely upon a
subject merely indicated in the foregoing chapter, and then sneered at
by at least one of the conversationists--that of the fortune-telling
imposition which so largely prevails, especially in the great cities,
and the general course of human superstition in connection with it.

It may be set down, as a general principle, that every man is more or
less superstitious--that is, impressed with ideas and omens which go
beyond the material world and bid utter defiance to reason. Every woman
is certainly so. It is not less undeniable, meanwhile, that nearly every
man and woman denies this fact of their natures and considers the mere
allegation to be an insult. Oftenest from the fear of ridicule, but
sometimes, no doubt, because any discussion of the matter is deemed
improper,--few acknowledge this peculiarity of nature, even to their
most intimate friends: some, who must be aware that they possess it,
deny it even to themselves. The subject is set down as contraband,
universally, unless when the weakness of a third party is to be
ridiculed, or a personal freedom from the superstition asserted; and yet
this very silence and the boasting are both suspicious. No man boasts so
much over his own wealth as he who has little or none; and no man is so
silent, except under the influence of great ex