La Voisin
IN Paris a woman named Des Hayes Voisin, a widow who had taken up the business of a midwife, towards the end of the seventeenth century made herself notorious by the telling of fortunes. Such at least was the manifest occиpation of the worthy lady, and as she did not flaunt herself unduly, her existence was rather a retired one.
Few who did not seek her services knew of her existence, fewer still of her residence. The life of a professor of such mysteries as the doings of Fate-so-called-is prolonged and sweetened by seclusion. But there is always an "underground" way of obtaining information for such as really desire it; and Madame Voisin, for all her evasive retirement, was always to be found when wantedwhich means when she herself wanted to be found. She was certainly a marvellous prophet, within a certain range of that occult art. Like all clever people she fixed limitations for herself; which was wise of her, for to prophesy on behalf of every one who may yearn for a raising of the curtain, be it of never so small a corner, on all possible subjects, is to usurp the general functions of the Almighty.