The novelty of the scene, the skill of the principal actor, the rapid growth of the piles of coin and bills, the frantic desire of the people to be gulled, all served to obscure those elements which were calculated to appeal to the Quaker’s conscience.  He felt like one awakened from a dream.  While he was still in the half dazed condition of such an awakening, the quack gave him a sign that this part of his lesson was ended, and following the direction of the thumb which he threw over his shoulder towards Pepeeta’s tent, he eagerly took his way thither.

Before the door stood several groups of young men and maidens, talking under their breath as if in the presence of some august deity.  Now and then a couple disentangled itself from the crowd, and with visible trepidation entered.  As they reappeared, their friends gathered about them and besought them to disclose the secrets they had discovered.

Some of them giggled and simpered, others laughed boisterously and skeptically, while others still, looked scared and anxious.  It was evident that even those who tried to make light of what they had seen and heard were moved by something awe-inspiring.

David listened to their silly talk, observed their bold demeanor and their vulgar manners, while the impression of weakness, of stupidity, of the lowness and beastiality of humanity made upon his mind by the aged and the mature, was intensified by his observation of the young and callow.

He did not anywhere see a spark of true nobility.  He did not hear a word of wisdom.  Everything was moving on a low, material and animal plane.  He felt that manhood and womanhood was not what he had believed it to be.

From the outside of the gypsy’s tent, he could make but few discoveries of her method; and he waited impatiently until the last curious couple had departed.  When they had disappeared, he entered.

At the opposite side of the tent and reclining upon a low divan was the gypsy.  Above her head a tallow candle was burning dimly.  Before her was a rough table covered with a shawl, upon which were scattered cups of tea with floating grounds, ivory dice, cards, coins and other implements of the “Black Art.”

Pepeeta sprang to her feet when she saw who her visitor was, and exhibited the clearest signs of agitation.  David’s own emotions were not less violent, for although the gypsy’s surroundings were poor and mean, they served rather to enhance than to diminish her exquisite beauty.  Her shoulders and arms were bare, and on her wrists were gold bracelets of writhing serpents in whose eyes gleamed diamonds.  On her fingers and in her ears were other costly stones.  Her dress was silk, and rustled when she moved, with soft and sibilant sounds.

“The doctor has sent me here to study the methods by which you do your work,” said David approaching the table and gazing at her with undisguised admiration.

“You should have come before.  How can you study my methods when I am not practicing them?  And any way, you have no faith in them.  Have you?  I always had until I heard your sermon in the little meeting house.”