By the time Madame Noveri had thrown in a few facts concerning the Weston family history—also gathered from the unsuspecting Amelia—Cynthia was ready to accept as inspired truth any revelations that might be made to her.
Then Madame, shrewd in knowledge of schoolgirl logic, felt that it was safe to turn to prophecy.
"A crisis is coming in your life," she said solemnly. "It is written in your hand. Let me see what the cards tell."
She shuffled the cards and bent over them, while Cynthia, thrilled by the thought of an approaching crisis, watched eagerly.
"Yes; it is here, too. I knew the hand could not lie. A dark man is coming into your life."
"'A dark man is coming into your life'"
Cynthia gasped ecstatically. She admired dark men.
"It is all clear in the cards. There is the fate card, and there is the dark man."