CH. xiv.] PLAYING DOMINOS. 247 



agreeably to the showman's desire, whispered to a neighbour what 

 it was, the dog, without taking much time for reflection, selected 

 the true card from among those lying on the cloth. 



439. The expressions of admiration and bewilderment this feat 

 elicited having somewhat subsided, the showman again laid out 

 those cards on which the numbers were written. There was a large 

 public clock easily visible from the Place : he held the dog's head 

 towards it ; requested him to look at it attentively, and tell the 

 gentlemen and ladies the exact time, first the hours, then the 

 minutes. It was a quarter-past two. The dog brought 2 for the 

 hours, and then 1 and 5 for the minutes. 



440. Having now sufficiently worked upon the imagination and 

 credulity of the observers, the showman drew forth a quantity of 

 small folded papers of various colours ; and having spread them 

 along the edges of the cloth, he solemnly protested that the dog 

 would tell the fortune of any of his hearers who would first give 

 him a sou. As a guarantee for the dog's ability, he told them they 

 might compare the several fortunes written on the papers selected 

 for them by the dog, however numerous they might be, when it 

 would be found that, without a single exception, the canine magician 

 would have foretold to each what could only happen to an individual 

 of his or her sex. The charlatan reaped a plentiful harvest, for the 

 temptation was strong to female curiosity especially ; and no one 

 could prove that the dog was ever in error. 



441. After a laughable exhibition of several of the dogs marching 

 in procession, which he called " the carnival of Venice," he affected 

 suddenly to discover that none of the dogs had been allowed a 

 game of dominos. He again unyoked the Dane, and asked if any 

 one was willing to become his antagonist. As no one would step 

 forward, whether from bashfulness or fear of necromancy I cannot 

 say, I avowed my willingness to play. There were fourteen dominos. 

 I drew seven. The others were arranged for the dog on the cloth, 

 far apart from one another. He had the double six, and he imme- 

 diately took it up to begin the game. I followed ; and we alter- 

 nately played a piece in the most orderly and regular manner the 

 dog carrying the dominos to the man to place for him ; wagging his 

 short stump when he found (from his master's manner), that he 

 was right ; and, to do him justice, he never made a mistake. 



442 Although I was now close to the showman, I could not re- 

 mark that he gave the least signal by look, or by motion of hand or 

 foot : but I fancied this, however, may be only another " mare's 

 nest," though I cannot think it was that I heard him make a slight 

 chuckling sound* (with his tongue against the roof of his mouth), 

 whilst the dog was walking round from domino to domino, which 

 ceased when he approached the right domino, leaving the man at 

 liberty to jest and talk nonsense for the amusement of the crowd. 



* This would account for the his audience at a respectable dis- 

 showman's wish to increase the tance, well out of hearing, 

 size of the circle (436), and keep 



