human
Did I not tell you to beware of a tall, dark man and a short, light woman?
gpt
By George, you're right! Do you know, that fact has never occurred to me till this moment, admitted Dick.
human
The man was tall and dark, and the woman was a small blonde. I was lucky to fare no worse than I did.
gpt
It was the benign influence of your favorable planets that saved you from death. How old are you?
human
I was eighteen about six months ago,
gpt
It is as I thought. You were threatened with a sudden and violent death through the position of Saturn in the sky at the moment you entered that house in the city; and but for other planetary influences in your favor you would have fared badly.
human
How can you tell all that without even looking at my hand?
gpt
I recall much that your hand told me, and the circumstances you have related to me enables me to make those deductions.
human
Hand-reading and astrology seem to be more or less alike.
gpt
They must agree, or there would be nothing in either. Cartomancy, which means the reading of the past, present or future through cards, also coincides with the other two, reaching the same results. Why, I can tell your character and all your characteristics by merely studying your physical appearance. You have a compact body, well-developed chest, and other traits that show at a glance the influence of the Sun and Jupiter at your birth, and indicate to an ordinary observer that you are endowed with good health and a resistance against disease. The color of your eyes, and hair, the size and shape of your hands, your ears, your eyebrows, all tell their story as clearly as if described in print. The very flush that you bear upon your cheeks shows beyond a doubt that you were born in the cycle of the Sun.
human
You gypsies are a great people in your way, I am bound to say,
gpt
Our ancestors came from Egypt. We are an old race.
human
Well, I've got to be going,
gpt
You are bound back to the city--soon?
human
On the day after New Year's.
gpt
When you return we will have departed, so I will say good-by forever.
human
Maybe not. I expect to return at Easter.
gpt
Unless the weather is backward, we will be on the move before then, she said.
human
One last look at your hand.
gpt
I told you that you were coming into a fortune before long.
human
I remember that you did. But there is very little chance of such a thing happening.
gpt
The fortune will come to you around Easter.
human
In what way?
gpt
It is already yours. Indeed, you have been in possession of this fortune for three years.
human
I have? Then it can't amount to much.
gpt
It is a fortune in money.
human
Why, I have been in possession of no money over a couple of hundred dollars.
gpt
You have, but even now you know it not.
human
How can I possess something and not be aware of the fact?
gpt
You will understand within four months. When the time comes, you will recall my words and say Miriam was right. She can read that which is hidden from most people. She has the power to see beyond the veil that hides from mankind the mysteries of life. And now good-by. Take this piece of bone and keep it as your emblem of good luck. Have it mounted in silver or gold and wear it as a charm on your watch chain. It will be worth your while. That is all.