Madame Victoria nodded and laughed, displaying her white teeth and calling up a charming dimple in each velvety cheek.
“As you probably know, Mr. Sibley,” said she, “people come here for various objects. Some call to have their horoscopes cast, others to have a mediumistic sitting with me in the hope of receiving communications from dead friends, while others call to consult me about business and love-affairs, or to have their fortunes told by the cards.”
“So I imagined,” bowed Nick.
“But you came for nothing of the kind, that’s my impression,” exclaimed Madame Victoria, with an abrupt exhibition of earnestness.
“It is quite correct.”
“You have no faith in any of those things.”
“That also is true.”
“Dear me, I am awfully perplexed,” laughed the woman, apparently with vain efforts to straighten out something in her mind. “You seem to me just like two men, which I, of course, know is absurd. Yet I cannot rid myself of the effects of that impression. I shall try to do all that I can for you, however, and will give you what comes to me.”
“If you please, madame,” said Nick, not a little impressed and puzzled by her curious statements and apparently genuine endeavors.
Again Madame Victoria beat her brow with her palm, so violently that Nick did not wonder that her hair was somewhat disordered.