Very few of these could be induced
to carry a dead man to his grave, even if they were paid for it.
I have said that most gipsy women undertake to tell fortunes. They do
this very successfully. But they find a much greater source of profit
in the sale of charms and love-philters. Not only do they supply toads'
claws to hold fickle hearts, and powdered loadstone to kindle love in
cold ones, but if necessity arises, they can use mighty incantations,
which force the devil to lend them his aid. Last year the following
story was related to me by a Spanish lady. She was walking one day along
the _Calle d'Alcala_, feeling very sad and anxious. A gipsy woman who
was squatting on the pavement called out to her, "My pretty lady, your
lover has played you false!" (It was quite true.) "Shall I get him
back for you?" My readers will imagine with what joy the proposal was
accepted, and how complete was the confidence inspired by a person who
could thus guess the inmost secrets of the heart. As it would have been
impossible to proceed to perform the operations of magic in the most
crowded street in Madrid, a meeting was arranged for the next day.
"Nothing will be easier than to bring back the faithless one to your
feet!" said the gitana.
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