They were consulted, not only with regard to the fortunes of those
whose exact time of coming to light was known (the time of birth was
then carefully registered, even to a minute, to serve as data on which
to construct the horoscope), but were relied on for raising the spells
of witchcraft, and often by their hints, advice, or threats of
exposure, procured the restoration of stolen property. They were
generally believed to have the same faculty of divination as is now
assumed by the Pellar of Redruth, who is making a fortune out of the
credulity of people in our enlightened times.
We will now however leave them, and (by way of change) endeavour, after
a few more tales, to get back to town by the usual mode of travelling
in the last century.