there is a black mark—­distresses.  A man becomes a comforter.  Here, in this corner, are friends, who support you.  Ah! who is he that persecutes them?  But justice triumphs—­after rain, sunshine—­a long journey successful.  There, do you see these little bags?  That is money which has been paid—­to you, of course, I mean.  That is well.  Do you see that arm?”—­“Yes.”—­“That is an arm supporting something:  a woman veiled; I see her; it is you.  All this is clear to me.  I hear, as it were, a voice speaking to me.  You are no longer attacked.  I see it, because the clouds in that direction are passed off (pointing to a clearer spot).  But, stay—­I see small lines which branch out from the main spot.  These are sons, daughters, nephews—­that is pretty well.”  She appeared overpowered with the effort she was making.  At length, she added, “That is all.  You have had good luck first—­misfortune afterward.  You have had a friend, who has exerted himself with success to extricate you from it.  You have had lawsuits—­at length fortune has been reconciled to you, and will change no more.”  She drank another glass of wine.  “Your health, Madame,” said she to the Marquise, and went through the same ceremonies with the cup.  At length, she broke out, “Neither fair nor foul.  I see there, in the distance, a serene sky; and then all these things that appear to ascend all these things are applauses.  Here is a grave man, who stretches out his arms.  Do you see?—­look attentively.”—­“That is true,” said Madame de Pompadour, with surprise (there was, indeed, some appearance of the kind).  “He points to something square that is an open coffer.  Fine weather.  But, look! there are clouds of azure and gold, which surround you.  Do you see that ship on the high sea?  How favourable the wind is!  You are on board; you land in a beautiful country, of which you become the Queen.  Ah! what do I see?  Look there—­look at that hideous, crooked, lame man, who is pursuing you—­but he is going on a fool’s errand.  I see a very great man, who supports you in his arms.  Here, look! he is a kind of giant.  There is a great deal of gold and silver—­a few clouds here and there.  But you have nothing to fear.  The vessel will be sometimes tossed about, but it will not be lost.  Dixi.”  Madame said, “When shall I die, and of what disease?”—­“I never speak of that,” said she; “see here, rather but fate will not permit it.  I will shew you how fate confounds everything”—­shewing her several confused lumps of the coffee-dregs.  “Well, never mind as to the time, then, only tell me the kind of death.”  The fortune-teller looked in the cup, and said, “You will have time to prepare yourself.”  I gave her only two Louis, to avoid doing anything remarkable.  She left us, after begging us to keep her secret, and we rejoined the Duc de Gontaut, to whom we related everything that had passed.  He laughed heartily, and said, “Her coffee-dregs are like the clouds—­you may see what you please in them.”