The Evil Eye; Or, The Black Spector: The Works of William Carleton, Volume OneCarleton, William
General
The Evil Eye; Or, The Black Spector: The Works of William Carleton, Volume One
Carleton, William
Ireland -- Social life and customs -- Fiction
“The Greatest Conjurer, Astrologer, and Doctor in the world.”
To describe the effect that this bill, which, by the way, was posted
against every dead wall in the town, had upon the people, would be
impossible. The inn in which he stopped was, in a short time, crowded
with applicants, either for relief or information, according as their
ills or wishes came under the respective heads of his advertisement. The
room he occupied was upstairs, and he had a door that led into a smaller
one, or kind of closet, at the end of it; here sat an old-looking man,
dressed in a black coat, black breeches, and black stockings; the very
picture of the mysterious individual who had appeared and disappeared so
suddenly at the bonfire. He had on a full-bottomed wig, and a long white
beard, depending from the lower part of his face, swept his reverend
breast. A large book lay open before him, on the pages of which were
inscribed cabalistic characters and strange figures. He only admitted
those who wished to consult him, singly; for on no occasion did he ever
permit two persons at a time to approach him. All the paraphernalia of
astrology were exposed upon the same table, at one end of which he sat
in an arm-chair, awaiting the commencement of operations. At length
a good-looking country-woman, of about forty-five years, made her
appearance, and, after a low courtesy, was solemnly motioned to take a
seat.
“Well, Mrs. Houlaghan,” said he, “how do you do?”
The poor woman got as pale as death. “Heavenly Father,” thought she,
“how does it happen that he comes to know my name!”
“Mrs. Houlaghan, what can I do for you? not that I need ask, for I could
give a very good guess at it;” and this he added with a very sage and
solemn visage, precisely as if he knew the whole circumstances.
“Why, your honor,” she replied--“but, blessed Father, how did you come
to know my name?”
“That's a question,” he replied, solemnly, “which you ought not to ask
me. It is enough that you see I know it. How is your husband, Frank, and
how is your daughter, Mary? She's complaining of late--is she not?”
This private knowledge of the family completely overwhelmed her, and she
felt unable to speak for some time.
“Do not be in a hurry, Mrs. Honlaghan,” said he, mildly; “reflect upon
what you are about to say, and take your time.”
“It's a ghost, your reverence,” she replied--“a ghost that haunts the
house.”
“Very well, Mrs. Houlaghan; the fee for laying a ghost is five
shillings; I will trouble you for that sum; we conjurers have no power
until we get money from the party concerned, and then we can work with
effect.”
The simple woman, in the agitation of the moment, handed him the amount
of his demand, and then collected herself to hear the response, and the
means of laying the ghost.
“Well, now,” said he, “tell me all about this ghost, Mrs. Houlaghan. How
long has it been troubling the family?”
“Why, then, ever since Frank lost the use of his sight, now goin' upon
five months.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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