Our penultimate performance was over, and I was in the midst of my vagaries again, when I saw Berry. Unanxious to tempt Providence, I retired precipitately to the shelter of the booth. My companion was sitting disconsolately upon the box on which she stood to work her puppets. 

 "Is it time for the next show?" she said. 

 "Not for a quarter of an hour." 

 I sat down at her feet and removed my mask and nose. 

 "I'm afraid I persuaded your hand last time, Judy." 

 "You touched it." 

 "Let me look." 

 "It doesn't show." 

 "Let me look." 

 After examining the knuckles carefully, I turned my attention to the soft little palm. 

 "Obstinacy," I said.  "Obstinacy is clearly indicated by the dimple situate below Saturn and to the right of the watering-pot." 

 She tried to draw it away, but I tightened my hold and proceeded with my investigation. 

 "A gentle and confiding nature, characterized by a penchant for escapade, is denoted by the joy-wheel at the base of Halley's Comet. And so we come to the life-belt. This—my word, this is all right! Unrivalled for resistance to damp and wear, will last three to six times as long as ordinary paint—I mean life—of extraordinary durability. Now for the heart-line. The expert will here descry a curious mixture of—" 

 Further investigation she cut short by so determined an attempt at withdrawal that I let her hand go. 

 "Oughtn't we to be beginning again?" 

 "You're very eager for the last show." 

 "No, I'm not, but I want to get it over." 

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