My appetite was not satisfied, it was only sharpened; I wanted to see Satan show off some more. It was a delight to me to see him astonish people; it was a private pride to me, too, and pleased my vanity, for I was envied, as beingⒶalteration in the MS friend and comrade to so great a magician. Satan was willing to content my desire, and said there was an opportunity now, up in the hills not twenty miles away, in the palace of a native of wealth and high degree. We were there in a moment, Satan properly clothed for the occasion in silks of rich color loosely draped about his slenderⒶalteration in the MS black figure, and on his head a handsome turban with gold stripes winding in and out among its folds. He had made his age about twenty-five. On a dais at the end of a noble hall sat the host, a blaze of gaudy silks and flashing jewels, and in front of him on orientalⒶalteration in the MS rugs sat forty or fifty natives in fine apparel. A magician of great renown was about to perform.

He held up a small ivory ball, so that all might see it, then gave it [begin page 173] to a young man and told him to carry it away and hide it. The young man departed, and returnedⒶalteration in the MS after a little time. The magician now tied a bandage over his eyes, and said he would go and find the ball. He felt his way along, with a cane, and many witnesses followed, to see if he succeeded. He wandered here and there and yonder about the great garden, not hesitating but moving with confidence, and at last he bent quickly down and apparentlyⒶalteration in the MS took the ball out from under a covering of loose moss and leaves at the root of a tree, and held it up. He and the witnesses came back and reported to the Rajah, who marveled greatly, and ordered a present of twenty gold mohurs to be given to the miracle-worker. Then Satan made a deep obeisance toward the chair of state, and said—

“I am also a magician, your Highness, and by my science I am able to perceive that this is not a wonderful thing. The young man who professed toⒶalteration in the MS hide the ball is the magician's confederate. He hid no ball; the magician found no ball. TheⒶalteration in the MS confederate's ball is in his girdle, the magician's ball lies in his hand. With a confederate's help, this trick is nothing.”

The magician loudlyⒶalteration in the MS protested, and said he was not acquainted with the young man who had assisted him, and did not knowⒶalteration in the MS he had a ball; and in any case the young man's ball had not been used. Satan asked—

“Could you tell your ball from the other if they were together?”

“Certainly.”

“If your Highness will deign to give the command—”

His Highness ordered that the two balls be brought to him. He rolled them about in his hands, then held them exposed in his palm. The magician made choice promptly, saying—

“This is mine; I recognise it easily. To others they may seem alike —to me they are not so.”

The Rajah wondered at his sharpness of eye, and said it was amazing. He supposed the incident closed, and was going to order some more goldⒶalteration in the MS mohurs, but Satan interrupted respectfully and asked the magician—

“Is your ball hollow, and is thereⒶalteration in the MS something concealed in it?”

[begin page 174]

“Certainly not.”

“Then that is not his ball, your Highness. Will your Highness be pleased to take it and unscrew its parts?”

“What is in it?”

“A diamond, your Highness.”Ⓐalteration in the MS