Couldn't we make a play of
the conjuror in disguise? It is Dr. Knowall in German popular tales,
Robin the Conjuror in English.'
'Nothing foolish, I hope?' seriously asked Wilmet.
'Oh no. Don't you recollect? The story is, that a set of thieves
steal a jewel, a man comes shamming conjuror and offering to find it
for the owner, intending to trust to chance, and feast at her expense
as long as he is not found out.'
'I remember!' exclaimed Lance, you used to tell us the story.
Somebody suspects him, and brings a creature shut up in a covered
dish to ask him to tell what it was--and it happens to be a robin; so
when he cries out, "Oh, poor Robin!" thinking himself done for, out
hops the bird, and the enemy is sold.'
'Yes; and then he counts his dinners every day, and the thieves who
have come to look on think he is counting them, and throw themselves
on his mercy.'
'It has capabilities,' said Edgar.
'But the moral!' said Wilmet.
'What! Not the lesson against dealing with conjurors? demanded Edgar.
'I'll undertake to arm your pupils against spirit-rapping for ever.'
'In that point of view--' said Wilmet doubtfully.
'In that point of view,' said Felix, laughing, 'it has my vote.
Pages:
509
510
511
512
513
514
515
516
517
518
519
520
521
522
523
524
525
526
527
528
529
530
531
532
533