but the ace of spades betokens sickness and death.

'The knaves represent the thoughts of their respective kings and
queens, and consequently the thoughts of the persons whom those
kings and queens represent, in accordance with their complexions.

For instance, a young lady of a rather but not decidedly dark
complexion, represented by the queen of clubs, when consulting
the cards, may be shocked to find her fair lover (the king of
diamonds) flirting with a wealthy widow (the queen of spades,
attended by the ten of diamonds), but she will be reassured
by finding his thoughts (the knave of diamonds) in combination
with a letter (ace of clubs), a wedding ring (ace of diamonds),
and her house (the ace of hearts); clearly signifying that,
though he is actually flirting with the rich widow, he is,
nevertheless, thinking of sending a letter, with an offer of
marriage, to the young lady herself. And look, where are her own
thoughts, represented by the knave of clubs; they are far away
with the old lover, that dark man (king of spades) who, as is
plainly shown by his being attended by the nine of diamonds, is
prospering at the Australian diggings or elsewhere. Let us
shuffle the cards once more, and see if the dark man, at the
distant diggings, ever thinks of his old flame, the club-
complexioned young lady in England. No! he does not. Here are
his thoughts (the knave of spades), directed to this fair, but
rather gay and coquettish, woman (the queen of diamonds); they
are separated but by a few hearts, one of them, the sixth
(honourable courtship), showing the excellent understanding that
exists between them. Count, now, from the six of hearts to the
ninth card from it, and lo! it is a wedding ring (the ace of