the mysterious stranger-第17章

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road　more　than　two　years　ago。　　Correct　me；　sir；　if　I　misunderstood　you。〃

The　astrologer　said　his　understanding　of　it　was　correct。

〃And　the　money　so　found　was　never　out　of　his　hands　thenceforth　up　to　a
certain　definite　datethe　last　day　of　last　year。　　Correct　me；　sir；　if　I
am　wrong。〃

The　astrologer　nodded　his　head。　　Wilhelm　turned　to　the　bench　and　said：

〃If　I　prove　that　this　money　here　was　not　that　money；　then　it　is　not　his？〃

〃Certainly　not；　but　this　is　irregular。　　If　you　had　such　a　witness　it　was
your　duty　to　give　proper　notice　of　it　and　have　him　here　to〃　He　broke
off　and　began　to　consult　with　the　other　judges。　　Meantime　that　other
lawyer　got　up　excited　and　began　to　protest　against　allowing　new　witnesses
to　be　brought　into　the　case　at　this　late　stage。

The　judges　decided　that　his　contention　was　just　and　must　be　allowed。

〃But　this　is　not　a　new　witness；〃　said　Wilhelm。　　〃It　has　already　been
partly　examined。　　I　speak　of　the　coin。〃

〃The　coin？　　What　can　the　coin　say？〃

〃It　can　say　it　is　not　the　coin　that　the　astrologer　once　possessed。　　It
can　say　it　was　not　in　existence　last　December。　　By　its　date　it　can　say
this。〃

And　it　was　so！　　There　was　the　greatest　excitement　in　the　court　while　that
lawyer　and　the　judges　were　reaching　for　coins　and　examining　them　and
exclaiming。　　And　everybody　was　full　of　admiration　of　Wilhelm's　brightness
in　happening　to　think　of　that　neat　idea。　　At　last　order　was　called　and
the　court　said：

〃All　of　the　coins　but　four　are　of　the　date　of　the　present　year。　　The
court　tenders　its　sincere　sympathy　to　the　accused；　and　its　deep　regret
that　he；　an　innocent　man；　through　an　unfortunate　mistake；　has　suffered
the　undeserved　humiliation　of　imprisonment　and　trial。　　The　case　is
dismissed。〃

So　the　money　could　speak；　after　all；　though　that　lawyer　thought　it
couldn't。　　The　court　rose；　and　almost　everybody　came　forward　to　shake
hands　with　Marget　and　congratulate　her；　and　then　to　shake　with　Wilhelm
and　praise　him；　and　Satan　had　stepped　out　of　Wilhelm　and　was　standing
around　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
inspiration；　and　he　brought　it　right　out　without　any　hesitation；　for；
although　he　didn't　examine　the　coins；　he　seemed；　somehow；　to　know　it　was
true。　　That　was　honest　of　him；　and　like　him；　another　would　have　pretended
he　had　thought　of　it　earlier；　and　was　keeping　it　back　for　a　surprise。

He　had　dulled　down　a　little　now；　not　much；　but　still　you　could　notice
that　he　hadn't　that　luminous　look　in　his　eyes　that　he　had　while　Satan　was
in　him。　　He　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。　　The　astrologer　went　off　dissatisfied　and　cursing；　and
Solomon　Isaacs　gathered　up　the　money　and　carried　it　away。　　It　was　Father
Peter's　for　good　and　all；　now。

Satan　was　gone。　　I　judged　that　he　had　spirited　himself　away　to　the　jail
to　tell　the　prisoner　the　news；　and　in　this　I　was　right。　　Marget　and　the
rest　of　us　hurried　thither　at　our　best　speed；　in　a　great　state　of
rejoicing。

Well；　what　Satan　had　done　was　this：　he　had　appeared　before　that　poor
prisoner；　exclaiming；　〃The　trial　is　over；　and　you　stand　forever　disgraced
as　a　thiefby　verdict　of　the　court！〃

The　shock　unseated　the　old　man's　reason。　　When　we　arrived；　ten　minutes
later；　he　was　parading　pompously　up　and　down　and　delivering　commands　to
this　and　that　and　the　other　constable　or　jailer；　and　calling　them　Grand
Chamberlain；　and　Prince　This　and　Prince　That；　and　Admiral　of　the　Fleet；
Field　Marshal　in　Command；　and　all　such　fustian；　and　was　as　happy　as　a
bird。　　He　thought　he　was　Emperor！

Marget　flung　herself　on　his　breast　and　cried；　and　indeed　everybody　was
moved　almost　to　heartbreak。　　He　recognized　Marget；　but　could　not
understand　why　she　should　cry。　　He　patted　her　on　the　shoulder　and　said：

〃Don't　do　it；　dear；　remember；　there　are　witnesses；　and　it　is　not　becoming
in　the　Crown　Princess。　　Tell　me　your　troubleit　shall　be　mended；　there
is　nothing　the　Emperor　cannot　do。〃　　Then　he　looked　around　and　saw　old
Ursula　with　her　apron　to　her　eyes。　　He　was　puzzled　at　that；　and　said；
〃And　what　is　the　matter　with　you？〃

Through　her　sobs　she　got　out　words　explaining　that　she　was　distressed　to
see　him〃so。〃　　He　reflected　over　that　a　moment；　then　muttered；　as　if　to
himself：　〃A　singular　old　thing；　the　Dowager　Duchessmeans　well；　but　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　concerned
about。　　Her　tears　shall　be　dried；　I　will　no　longer　stand　between　you；　she
shall　share　your　throne；　and　between　you　you　shall　inherit　mine。　　There；
little　lady；　have　I　done　well？　　You　can　smile　nowisn't　it　so？〃

He　petted　Marget　and　kissed　her；　and　was　so　contented　with　himself　and
with　everybody　that　he　could　not　do　enough　for　us　all；　but　began　to　give
away　kingdoms　and　such　things　right　and　left；　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　to　be　hurrahed　at；　they　humored　him　to　the　top　of　his
desire；　and　he　responded　with　condescending　bows　and　gracious　smiles；　and
often　stretched　out　a　hand　and　said；　〃Bless　you；　my　people！〃

As　pitiful　a　sight　as　ever　I　saw。　　And　Marget；　and　old　Ursula　crying　all
the　way。

On　my　road　home　I　came　upon　Satan；　and　reproached　him　with　deceiving　me
with　that　lie。　　He　was　not　embarrassed；　but　said；　quite　simply　and
composedly：

〃Ah；　you　mistake；　it　was　the　truth。　　I　said　he　would　be　happy　the　rest　of
his　days；　and　he　will；　for　he　will　always　think　he　is　the　Emperor；　and
his　pride　in　it　and　his　joy　in　it　will　endure　to　the　end。　　He　is　now；　and
will　remain；　the　one　utterly　happy　person　in　this　empire。〃

〃But　the　method　of　it；　Satan；　the　method！　　Couldn't　you　have　done　it
without　depriving　him　of　his　reason？〃

It　was　difficult　to　irritate　Satan；　but　that　accomplished　it。

〃What　an　ass　you　are！〃　he　said。　　〃Are　you　so　unobservant　as　not　to　have
found　out　that　sanity　and　happiness　are　an　impossible　combination？　　No
sane　man　can　be　happy；　for　to　him　life　is　real；　and　he　sees　what　a
fearful　thing　it　is。　　Only　the　mad　can　be　happy；　and　not　many　of　those。
The　few　that　imagine　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　silver…gilt　fiction；　you　see　the
resultand　you　criticize！　　I　said　I　would　make　him　permanently　happy；
and　I　have　done　it。　　I　have　made　him　happy　by　the　only　means　possible　to
his　raceand　you　are　not　satisfied！〃　He　heaved　a　discouraged　sigh；　and
said；　〃It　seems　to　me　that　this　race　is　hard　to　please。〃

There　it　was；　you　see。　　He　didn't　seem　to　know　any　way　to　do　a　person　a
favor　except　by　killing　him　or　making　a　lunatic　out　of　him。　　I
apologized；　as　well　as　I　could；　but　privately　I　did　not　think　much　of　his
processesat　that　time。

Satan　was　accustomed　to　say　that　our　race　lived　a　life　of　continuous　and
uninterrupted　self…deception。　　It　duped　itself　from　cradle　to　grave　with
shams　and　delusions　which　it　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　regarded　itself
as　gold；　and　was　only　brass。　　One　day　when　he　was　in　this　vein　he
mentioned　a　detailthe　sense　of　humor。　　I　cheered　up　then；　and　took
issue。　　I　said　we　possessed　it。

〃There　spoke　the　race！〃　he　said；　〃always　ready　to　claim　what　it　hasn't
got；　and　mistake　its　ounce　of　brass　filings　for　a　ton　of　gold…dust。　　You
have　a　mongrel　perception　of　humor；　nothing　more；　a　multitude　of　you
possess　that。　　This　multitude　see　the　comic　side　of　a　thousand　low…grade
and　trivial　thingsbroad　incongruities；　mainly；　grotesqueries；
absurdities；　evokers　of　the　horse…laugh。　　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　themand　by　laughing　at　them　destroy　them？
For　your　race；　in　its　poverty；　has　unquestionably　one　really　effective
weaponlaughter。　　Power；　money；　persuasion；　supplication；　persecution
these　can　lift　at　a　colossal　humbugpush　it　a　littleweaken　it　a
little；　century　by　century；　but　only　laughter　can　blow　it　to　rags　and
atoms　at　a　blast。　　Against　the　assault　of　laughter　nothing　can　stand。
You　are　always　fussing　and　fighting　with　your　other　weapons。　　Do　you　ever
use　that　one？　　No；　you　leave　it　lying　rusting。　　As　a　race；　do　you　ever
use　it　at　all？　　No；　you　lack　sense　and　the　courage。〃

We　were　traveling　at　the　time　and　stopped　at　a　little　city　in　India　and
looked　on　while　a　juggler　did　his　tricks　before　a　group　of　natives。　　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　changed　himself　into　a
native　in　turban　and　breech…cloth；　and　very　considerately　conferred　on　me
a　temporary　knowledge　of　the　language。

The　juggler　exhibited　a　seed；　covered　it　with　earth　in　a　small　flower…
pot；　then　put　a　rag　over　the　pot；　after　a　minute　the　rag　began　to　rise；
in　ten　minutes　it　had　risen　a　foot；　then　the　rag　was　removed　and　a　little
tree　was　exposed；　with　leaves　upon　it　and　ripe　fruit。　　We　ate　the　fruit；
and　it　was　good。　　But　Satan　said：

〃Why　do　you　cover　the　pot？　　Can't　you　grow　the　tree　in　the　sunlight？〃

〃No；〃　said　the　juggler；　〃no　one　can　do　that。〃

〃You　are　only　an　apprentice；　you　don't　know　your　trade。　　Give　me　the
seed。　　I　will　show　you。〃　　He　took　the　seed　and　said；　〃What　shall　I　raise
from　it？〃

〃It　is　a　cherry　seed；　of　course　you　will　raise　a　cherry。〃

〃Oh　no；　that　is　a　trifle；　any　novice　can　do　that。　　Shall　I　raise　an
orange…tree　from　it？〃

〃Oh　yes！〃　and　the　juggler　laughed。

〃And　shall　I　make　it　bear　other　fruits　as　well　as　oranges？〃

〃If　God　wills！〃　and　they　all　laughed。

Satan　put　the　seed　in　the　ground；　put　a　handful　of　dust　on　it；　and　said；
〃Rise！〃

A　tiny　stem　shot　up　and　began　to　grow；　and　grew　so　fast　that　in　five
minutes　it　was　a　great　tree；　and　we　were　sitting　in　the　shade　of　it。
There　was　a　murmur　of　wonder；　then　all　looked　up　and　saw　a　strange　and
pretty　sight；　for　the　branches　were　heavy　with　fruits　of　many　kinds　and
colorsoranges；　grapes；　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　wonderand　they　remembered　to　bring　baskets；　too。
But　the　tree　was　equal　to　the　occasion；　it　put　out　n