She stared, then put her hand to her throat. ''Go on,'' she said. Her face was pale now.
''Let us look,'' I said, ''at the next three cards. They show your Present.''
I turned them over with a flourish.
''The King of Diamonds,'' I said. ''A stern old gentleman. The Five of Clubs: a parched mouth. The Cavalier of Spades—''
I took my time. She leaned towards me.
''What''s he?'' she said. ''The Cavalier?''
I said he was a young man on horseback, with good in his heart; and she looked at me in such an astonished believing sort of way, I was almost sorry. She said, in a low voice, ''Now I am afraid! Don''t turn over the next cards.''
I said, ''Miss, I must. Or all your luck will leave you. Look here. These show your Future.''
I turned the first. The Six of Spades.
''A journey!'' I said. ''Perhaps, a trip with Mr Lilly? Or perhaps, a journey of the heart..."
She didn''t answer, only sat gazing at the cards I had turned up. Then: ''Show the last one,'' she said in a whisper. I showed it. She saw it first.■本■作■品■由■思■兔■在■線■閱■讀■網■友■整■理■上■傳■
''Queen of Diamonds,'' she said, with a sudden frown. ''Who''s she?''
I did not know. I had meant to turn up the Two of Hearts, for lovers; but after all, must have muddled the deck.