 a thousand additional circumstances to the
prejudice of the sufferers, one of whom had thought proper to withdraw into the
country, until the scandal raised at her expence should subside; while the
other, who was not so easily put out of countenance, resolved to outface the
report, as a treacherous aspersion, invented by her lover as an excuse for his
own inconstancy; and actually appeared in public, as usual, till she found
herself neglected by the greatest part of her acquaintance.
    In consequence of this disgrace, which she knew not whether to impute to the
card affair, or to the last faux pas she had committed, she now came to consult
the conjurer, and signified her errand, by asking whether the cause of her
present disquiet was of the town or country? Cadwallader at once perceiving her
allusion, answered her question in these terms. »This honest world will forgive
a young gamester for indiscretion at play, but a favour granted to a blabbing
coxcomb is an unpardonable offence.« This response she received with equal
astonishment and chagrin; and, fully convinced of the necromancer's omniscience,
implored his advice touching the retrieval of her reputation: upon which he
counselled her to wed with the first opportunity; and she seemed so well pleased
with his admonition, that she gratified him with a double fee, and dropping a
low curt'sy, retired.
    Our undertakers now thought it high time to silence the oracle for the day,
and Hadgi was accordingly ordered to exclude all comers, while Peregrine and his
friend renewed the deliberations, which had been interrupted, and settled a plan
of operations for the next occasion: mean while it was resolved, that Hadgi
should not only exercise his own talents, but also employ inferior agents, in
procuring general intelligence for the support of their scheme; that the expence
of this ministry should be defrayed from the profits of their profession; and
the remainder be distributed to poor families in distress.
 

                                  Chapter XCI

Peregrine and his Friend Cadwallader proceed in the Exercise of the Mystery of
Fortune-telling, in the course of which they atchieve various Adventures
 
These preliminaries being adjusted, our hero forthwith repaired to a card
assembly, which was frequented by some of the most notable gossips in town, and
having artfully turned the conversation upon the subject of the fortune-teller,
whose talents he pretended to ridicule, incensed their itch of knowing secrets
to such a degree of impatience, that their curiosity became flagrant, and he
took it for granted, that all or some of them would visit Albumazar on his very
first visiting-day. While Peregrine was thus engaged, his
