The Mysterious Stranger, and Other Stories

getting a stone in the middle of his back now and then when some witch-hater got a safe chance to throw it and dodge out of sight. Meantime two influences had been working well for Marg

e two matters working upon her together, she was getting a good profit out of the combination-her interest in Satan was steadily cooling, her interest in Wilhelm as steadily wa

gan his preparations with diligence. With more diligence than hope, in fact, for it was not a promising case. He had many interviews in his office with S

rse I did not doubt that it would be won, and that Father Peter would be happy for the rest of his life, since Satan had said so; yet I knew I should be much more comfortable if he would come and tell us how to manage it. It was getti

erybody was there except the accused. He was too feeble in body for the strain. But Marget was present, and keeping up her hope and her spirit t

witness-box. He had on his bes

laim that this

ER.

id you c

the road when I was re

W

han two y

id you do

secret place in my observatory, int

eavored to

ry during several months

nd t

nishing the wing of the foundling-asylum connected with the priory and nunnery. So I t

you stop

d finished and was restoring the bag to its place,

s bad," but others answered,

made you

, for Father Peter often came to me unanno

d with begging, especially from one he had always denounced as a fraud, a

Pro

I heard of Father Peter's find I was glad, and no suspicion entered my mind; when I came home a day or two later and discovered that my own mon

y name

ad. Father Peter's find consisted exclusively of gold ducats-mine also

tainly it made a strong impressio

be difficult for court and people to believe the astrologer's story, considering his character, but it was almost impossible to believe Father Peter's. We were already feeling badly enough, but when the astrologer's lawyer said he believed he would not ask us any questions-for our story was a little delicate and it would be cruel for him to put any strain upon it-everybod

ooked so depressed and despondent. We two were comfortable now, and judged that he would testify and persuade the bench and the people that black was white and white black, or any other color he wan

began to melt into Wilhelm. He melted into him and disappeared; and the

iously, and with dignity. He p

t victory-the dishonor of a priest of God and his two poor juvenile helpers in crime. If it could but speak, let u

. Wilhelm r

he found this money in a road more than two yea

d his understandin

thenceforth up to a certain definite date-the las

is head. Wilhelm turned

ney here was not that mo

and have him here to-" He broke off and began to consult with the other judges. Meantime that other lawyer got

t his contention was j

id Wilhelm. "It has already been pa

What can th

er once possessed. It can say it was not in exis

reaching for coins and examining them and exclaiming. And everybody was full of admiration of Wilhel

ympathy to the accused, and its deep regret that he, an innocent man, through an unfortunate mi

nd looking on full of interest, and people walking through him every which way, not knowing he was there. And Wilhelm could not explain why he only thought of the date on the coins at the last moment, instead of earlier; he said it just occurred to him, all of a sudden, like an in

e nearly got it back, though, for a moment when Marget came and praised him and thanked him and couldn't keep him from seeing how proud she was of him. T

o tell the prisoner the news; and in this I was right. Marget and the re

that poor prisoner, exclaiming, "The trial is over, and you

commands to this and that and the other constable or jailer, and calling them Grand chamberlain, and Prince This and Prince That

as moved almost to heartbreak. He recognized Marget, but could not u

your trouble-it shall be mended; there is nothing the Emperor cannot do." Then he looked around and saw o

ut is always snuffling and never able to tell what it is about. It is because she doesn't know." His eyes fell on Wilhelm. "Prince of India," he said, "I divine that it is you that the Crown Princess is concer

, and the least that any of us got was a principality. And so at last, being persuaded to go home, he marched in imposing state; and when the crowds along the way saw how it gratified him

I saw. And Marget, and ol

him with deceiving me with that lie. He was not

ill, for he will always think he is the Emperor, and his pride in it and his joy in it will

ethod! Couldn't you have done it wi

irritate Satan, but

themselves kings or gods are happy, the rest are no happier than the sane. Of course, no man is entirely in his right mind at any time, but I have been referring to the extreme cases. I have taken from this man that trumpery thing which the race regards as a Mind; I have replaced his tin life with a

except by killing him or making a lunatic out of him. I apologized, as well

mistook for realities, and this made its entire life a sham. Of the score of fine qualities which it imagined it had and was vain of, it really possessed hardly one. It reg

. The ten thousand high-grade comicalities which exist in the world are sealed from their dull vision. Will a day come when the race will detect the funniness of these juvenilities and laugh at them-and by laughing at them destroy them? For your race, in its poverty, has unquestionably one really effective weapon-laughter. Power, money, persuasion, supplication, persecution-these can

tives. They were wonderful, but I knew Satan could beat that game, and I begged him to show off a little, and he said he would. He ch

ter a minute the rag began to rise; in ten minutes it had risen a foot; then the rag was removed and a lit

pot? Can't you grow th

juggler; "no on

trade. Give me the seed. I will show you." He too

d; of course you wi

novice can do that. Shall I

nd the jugg

t bear other fruits

s!" and they

ground, put a handful of d

, bananas, peaches, cherries, apricots, and so on. Baskets were brought, and the unlading of the tree began; and the people crowded around Satan and kissed his hand, and praised him, calling him the prince of jugglers. The news went about the town, and everybody came running to see the wonder-and they

you dogs; the tree is on m

beisance. Satan made humble obeisance, too, with his

d no longer. Afterward you may forbid them; and you will still have

vagabond, to tell your betters what they may do and what they mayn't!"

and fell. The foreigner gazed at the bare limbs with the

ourself; it must not be done by proxy, and to do it in daylight will not answer. If you fail only once in any night, the tree will die, and you likewise. Do not go home to your own country any more-yo

ht he looked as if he would like to. While he stood g

tomary self and killed him or made him a lunatic. It woul

heir native land, Portugal. She is well, but has not long to live, and has been yearning to see him an

n't te

reflect that it could be revealed in sleep, in the hearin

atives understand wh

torture to him, for he has been a harsh master to them. In his dreams he will imagine them chopp

see him take such a malicious satisf

ve what you to

y variety of fruits-the sudden withering-all these things are helps. Let him think as he may, reason as he may, one thing is cert

is t

the tree's devil. You are such a h

tell th

driven out of it, so that it will thrive and be fruitful again. The priest's incantations

the tree. I know it; he wi

India the people are civilized, and these things will not happen

said, "Satan, you have give

must not be mista

lecting in some way the weakness and triviality of our race. He did this now every few days-not out of malice-I am sure of