the mysterious stranger-第6章

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〃What's　come　over　it？〃　she　said。　　〃Awhile　ago　it　could　hardly　walk。〃

〃You　have　not　seen　a　kitten　of　that　breed　before；〃　said　Satan。

Ursula　was　not　proposing　to　be　friendly　with　the　mocking　stranger；　and
she　gave　him　an　ungentle　look　and　retorted：　〃Who　asked　you　to　come　here
and　pester　me；　I'd　like　to　know？　　And　what　do　you　know　about　what　I've
seen　and　what　I　haven't　seen？〃

〃You　haven't　seen　a　kitten　with　the　hair…spines　on　its　tongue　pointing　to
the　front；　have　you？〃

〃Nonor　you；　either。〃

〃Well；　examine　this　one　and　see。〃

Ursula　was　become　pretty　spry；　but　the　kitten　was　spryer；　and　she　could
not　catch　it；　and　had　to　give　it　up。　　Then　Satan　said：

〃Give　it　a　name；　and　maybe　it　will　come。〃

Ursula　tried　several　names；　but　the　kitten　was　not　interested。

〃Call　it　Agnes。　　Try　that。〃

The　creature　answered　to　the　name　and　came。　　Ursula　examined　its　tongue。
〃Upon　my　word；　it's　true！〃　she　said。　　〃I　have　not　seen　this　kind　of　a　cat
before。　　Is　it　yours？〃

〃No。〃

〃Then　how　did　you　know　its　name　so　pat？〃

〃Because　all　cats　of　that　breed　are　named　Agnes；　they　will　not　answer　to
any　other。〃

Ursula　was　impressed。　　〃It　is　the　most　wonderful　thing！〃　Then　a　shadow　of
trouble　came　into　her　face；　for　her　superstitions　were　aroused；　and　she
reluctantly　put　the　creature　down；　saying：　〃I　suppose　I　must　let　it　go；　I
am　not　afraidno；　not　exactly　that；　though　the　priestwell；　I've　heard
peopleindeed；　many　people。。。　　And；　besides；　it　is　quite　well　now　and
can　take　care　of　itself。〃　　She　sighed；　and　turned　to　go；　murmuring：　〃It
is　such　a　pretty　one；　too；　and　would　be　such　companyand　the　house　is　so
sad　and　lonesome　these　troubled　days。。。　　Miss　Marget　so　mournful　and　just
a　shadow；　and　the　old　master　shut　up　in　jail。〃

〃It　seems　a　pity　not　to　keep　it；〃　said　Satan。

Ursula　turned　quicklyjust　as　if　she　were　hoping　some　one　would
encourage　her。

〃Why？〃　she　asked；　wistfully。

〃Because　this　breed　brings　luck。〃

〃Does　it？　　Is　it　true？　　Young　man；　do　you　know　it　to　be　true？　　How　does
it　bring　luck？〃

〃Well；　it　brings　money；　anyway。〃

Ursula　looked　disappointed。　　〃Money？　　A　cat　bring　money？　　The　idea！　　You
could　never　sell　it　here；　people　do　not　buy　cats　here；　one　can't　even
give　them　away。〃　　She　turned　to　go。

〃I　don't　mean　sell　it。　　I　mean　have　an　income　from　it。　　This　kind　is
called　the　Lucky　Cat。　　Its　owner　finds　four　silver　groschen　in　his　pocket
every　morning。〃

I　saw　the　indignation　rising　in　the　old　woman's　face。　　She　was　insulted。
This　boy　was　making　fun　of　her。　　That　was　her　thought。　　She　thrust　her
hands　into　her　pockets　and　straightened　up　to　give　him　a　piece　of　her
mind。　　Her　temper　was　all　up；　and　hot。　　Her　mouth　came　open　and　let　out
three　words　of　a　bitter　sentence；。。。　　then　it　fell　silent；　and　the　anger
in　her　face　turned　to　surprise　or　wonder　or　fear；　or　something；　and　she
slowly　brought　out　her　hands　from　her　pockets　and　opened　them　and　held
them　so。　　In　one　was　my　piece　of　money；　in　the　other　lay　four　silver
groschen。　　She　gazed　a　little　while；　perhaps　to　see　if　the　groschen　would
vanish　away；　then　she　said；　fervently：

〃It's　trueit's　trueand　I'm　ashamed　and　beg　forgiveness；　O　dear　master
and　benefactor！〃　And　she　ran　to　Satan　and　kissed　his　hand；　over　and　over
again；　according　to　the　Austrian　custom。

In　her　heart　she　probably　believed　it　was　a　witch…cat　and　an　agent　of　the
Devil；　but　no　matter；　it　was　all　the　more　certain　to　be　able　to　keep　its
contract　and　furnish　a　daily　good　living　for　the　family；　for　in　matters
of　finance　even　the　piousest　of　our　peasants　would　have　more　confidence
in　an　arrangement　with　the　Devil　than　with　an　archangel。　　Ursula　started
homeward；　with　Agnes　in　her　arms；　and　I　said　I　wished　I　had　her　privilege
of　seeing　Marget。

Then　I　caught　my　breath；　for　we　were　there。　　There　in　the　parlor；　and
Marget　standing　looking　at　us；　astonished。　　She　was　feeble　and　pale；　but
I　knew　that　those　conditions　would　not　last　in　Satan's　atmosphere；　and　it
turned　out　so。　　I　introduced　Satanthat　is；　Philip　Traumand　we　sat
down　and　talked。　　There　was　no　constraint。　　We　were　simple　folk；　in　our
village；　and　when　a　stranger　was　a　pleasant　person　we　were　soon　friends。
Marget　wondered　how　we　got　in　without　her　hearing　us。　　Traum　said　the
door　was　open；　and　we　walked　in　and　waited　until　she　should　turn　around
and　greet　us。　　This　was　not　true；　no　door　was　open；　we　entered　through
the　walls　or　the　roof　or　down　the　chimney；　or　somehow；　but　no　matter；
what　Satan　wished　a　person　to　believe；　the　person　was　sure　to　believe；
and　so　Marget　was　quite　satisfied　with　that　explanation。　　And　then　the
main　part　of　her　mind　was　on　Traum；　anyway；　she　couldn't　keep　her　eyes
off　him；　he　was　so　beautiful。　　That　gratified　me；　and　made　me　proud。　　I
hoped　he　would　show　off　some；　but　he　didn't。　　He　seemed　only　interested
in　being　friendly　and　telling　lies。　　He　said　he　was　an　orphan。　　That　made
Marget　pity　him。　　The　water　came　into　her　eyes。　　He　said　he　had　never
known　his　mamma；　she　passed　away　while　he　was　a　young　thing；　and　said　his
papa　was　in　shattered　health；　and　had　no　property　to　speak　ofin　fact；
none　of　any　earthly　valuebut　he　had　an　uncle　in　business　down　in　the
tropics；　and　he　was　very　well　off　and　had　a　monopoly；　and　it　was　from
this　uncle　that　he　drew　his　support。　　The　very　mention　of　a　kind　uncle
was　enough　to　remind　Marget　of　her　own；　and　her　eyes　filled　again。　　She
said　she　hoped　their　two　uncles　would　meet；　some　day。　　It　made　me
shudder。　　Philip　said　he　hoped　so；　too；　and　that　made　me　shudder　again。

〃Maybe　they　will；〃　said　Marget。　　〃Does　your　uncle　travel　much？〃

〃Oh　yes；　he　goes　all　about；　he　has　business　everywhere。〃

And　so　they　went　on　chatting；　and　poor　Marget　forgot　her　sorrow　for　one
little　while；　anyway。　　It　was　probably　the　only　really　bright　and　cheery
hour　she　had　known　lately。　　I　saw　she　liked　Philip；　and　I　knew　she　would。
And　when　he　told　her　he　was　studying　for　the　ministry　I　could　see　that
she　liked　him　better　than　ever。　　And　then；　when　he　promised　to　get　her
admitted　to　the　jail　so　that　she　could　see　her　uncle；　that　was　the
capstone。　　He　said　he　would　give　the　guards　a　little　present；　and　she
must　always　go　in　the　evening　after　dark；　and　say　nothing；　〃but　just　show
this　paper　and　pass　in；　and　show　it　again　when　you　come　out〃and　he
scribbled　some　queer　marks　on　the　paper　and　gave　it　to　her；　and　she　was
ever　so　thankful；　and　right　away　was　in　a　fever　for　the　sun　to　go　down；
for　in　that　old；　cruel　time　prisoners　were　not　allowed　to　see　their
friends；　and　sometimes　they　spent　years　in　the　jails　without　ever　seeing
a　friendly　face。　　I　judged　that　the　marks　on　the　paper　were　an
enchantment；　and　that　the　guards　would　not　know　what　they　were　doing；　nor
have　any　memory　of　it　afterward；　and　that　was　indeed　the　way　of　it。
Ursula　put　her　head　in　at　the　door　now　and　said：

〃Supper's　ready；　miss。〃　　Then　she　saw　us　and　looked　frightened；　and
motioned　me　to　come　to　her；　which　I　did；　and　she　asked　if　we　had　told
about　the　cat。　　I　said　no；　and　she　was　relieved；　and　said　please　don't；
for　if　Miss　Marget　knew；　she　would　think　it　was　an　unholy　cat　and　would
send　for　a　priest　and　have　its　gifts　all　purified　out　of　it；　and　then
there　wouldn't　be　any　more　dividends。　　So　I　said　we　wouldn't　tell；　and
she　was　satisfied。　　Then　I　was　beginning　to　say　good…by　to　Marget；　but
Satan　interrupted　and　said；　ever　so　politelywell；　I　don't　remember　just
the　words；　but　anyway　he　as　good　as　invited　himself　to　supper；　and　me；
too。　　Of　course　Marget　was　miserably　embarrassed；　for　she　had　no　reason
to　suppose　there　would　be　half　enough　for　a　sick　bird。　　Ursula　heard　him；
and　she　came　straight　into　the　room；　not　a　bit　pleased。　　At　first　she　was
astonished　to　see　Marget　looking　so　fresh　and　rosy；　and　said　so；　then　she
spoke　up　in　her　native　tongue；　which　was　Bohemian；　and　saidas　I　learned
afterward〃Send　him　away；　Miss　Marget；　there's　not　victuals　enough。〃

Before　Marget　could　speak；　Satan　had　the　word；　and　was　talking　back　to
Ursula　in　her　own　languagewhich　was　a　surprise　to　her；　and　for　her
mistress；　too。　　He　said；　〃Didn't　I　see　you　down　the　road　awhile　ago？〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃

〃Ah；　that　pleases　me；　I　see　you　remember　me。〃　　He　stepped　to　her　and
whispered：　〃I　told　you　it　is　a　Lucky　Cat。　　Don't　be　troubled；　it　will
provide。〃

That　sponged　the　slate　of　Ursula's　feelings　clean　of　its　anxieties；　and　a
deep；　financial　joy　shone　in　her　eyes。　　The　cat's　value　was　augmenting。
It　was　getting　full　time　for　Marget　to　take　some　sort　of　notice　of
Satan's　invitation；　and　she　did　it　in　the　best　way；　the　honest　way　that
was　natural　to　her。　　She　said　she　had　little　to　offer；　but　that　we　were
welcome　if　we　would　share　it　with　her。

We　had　supper　in　the　kitchen；　and　Ursula　waited　at　table。　　A　small　fish
was　in　the　frying…pan；　crisp　and　brown　and　tempting；　and　one　could　see
that　Marget　was　not　expecting　such　respectable　food　as　this。　　Ursula
brought　it；　and　Marget　divided　it　between　Satan　and　me；　declining　to　take
any　of　it　herself；　and　was　beginning　to　say　she　did　not　care　for　fish　to…
day；　but　she　did　not　finish　the　remark。　　It　was　because　she　noticed　that
another　fish　had　appeared　in　the　pan。　　She　looked　surprised；　but　did　not
say　anything。　　She　probably　meant　to　inquire　of　Ursula　about　this　later。
There　were　other　surprises：　flesh　and　game　and　wines　and　fruitsthings
which　had　been　strangers　in　that　house　lately；　but　Marget　made　no
exclamations；　and　now　even　looked　unsurprised；　which　was　Satan's
influence；　of　course。　　Satan　talked　right　along；　and　was　entertaining；
and　made　the　time　pass　pleasantly　and　cheerfully；　and　although　he　told　a
good　many　lies；　it　was　no　harm　in　him；　for　he　was　only　an　angel　and　did
not　know　any　better。　　They　do　not　know　right　from　wrong；　I　knew　this；
because　I　remembered　what　he　had　said　about　it。　　He　got　on　the　good　side
of　Ursula。　　He　praised　her　to　Marget；　confidentially；　but　speaking　just
loud　enough　for　Ursula　to　hear。　　He　said　she　was　a　fine　woman；　and　he
hoped　some　day　to　bring　her　and　his　uncle　together。　　Very　soon　Ursula　was
mincing　and　simpering　around　in　a　ridiculous　girly　way；　and　smoothing　out
her　gown　and　prinking　at　herself　like　a　foolish　old　hen；　and　all　the　time
pretending　she　was　not　hearing　what　Satan　was　saying。　　I　was　ashamed；　for
it　showed　us　to　be　what　Satan　considered　us；　a　silly　race　and　trivial。
Satan　said　his　uncle　entertained　a　great　deal；　and　to　have　a　clever　woman
presiding　over　the　festivities　would　double　the　attractions　of　the　place。

〃But　your　uncle　is　a　gentleman；　isn't　he？〃　asked　Marget。

〃Yes；〃　said　Satan　indifferently；　〃some　even　call　him　a　Prince；　out　of
compliment；　but　he　is　not　bigoted；　to　him　personal　merit　is　everything；
rank　nothing。〃

My　hand　was　hanging　down　by　my　chair；　Agnes　came　along　and　licked　it；　by
this　act　a　secret　was　revealed。　　I　started　to　say；　〃It　is　all　a　mistake；
this　is　just　a　common；　ordinary　cat；　the　hair…needles　on　her　tongue　point
inward；　not　outward。〃　　But　the　words　did　not　come；　because　they　couldn't。
Satan　smiled　upon　me；　and　I　understood。

When　it　was　dark　Marget　took　food　and　wine　and　fruit；　in　a　basket；　and
hurried　away　to　the　jail；　and　Satan　and　I　walked　toward　my　home。　　I　was
thinking　to　myself　that　I　shou