Part 20 (1/2)
”Who are you?”
”Pardine! you'd ought to know well enough, as you're a sorcerer.”
”Of course I know; but as I ask you, of course I must have secret reasons for doing so. Answer then, without tergiversation.”
”Without tergi--without terger--What are you talking about?”
”I ask you your name.”
”My name's like my brother's, Eustache Nicole.”
”What do you do?”
”Why, I work in the fields, or else I drive folks' wagons when there's stuff to carry.”
”Why have you come here?”
”What! why, I've come like the rest of 'em! to see what a sorcerer looks like.”
”Who told you that I was a sorcerer?”
”The barber did, when I got clipped at his place this morning; and as there ain't been no sorcerers in these parts for a long time, I stayed in town on purpose to see you.”
”Do you want to be magnetized?”
”Magne--What do you mean by that?”
”Do you want me to put the secret agent at work on you?”
”Pardi! I don't care what you put to work!”
”Well, what do you wish to know?”
”Oh! well! lots o' things!--You mean to say that you can't guess 'em?”
”Yes, indeed; and first of all I am going to magnetize you.”
”All right, I'm willing; will it cost me much?”
”I charge nothing for that.”
”If that's so, then you must be a sorcerer sure enough, if you do your business without having your hand greased!”
My little hunchback seated the peasant in a great easy-chair, then touched him several times with the magic wand; but the clown let him keep on, and seemed to be not in the slightest degree under the charm.
Thereupon my companion began to pa.s.s his fingers very lightly over his eyes, in order to communicate the magnetic fluid to him. The peasant said nothing, but contented himself with turning his chair from time to time and rubbing his eyes. I felt a strong desire to laugh when I saw the pains that my poor comrade was taking, perspiring profusely in his efforts to magnetize Eustache Nicole.
At last the peasant seemed quieter; he ceased to move and rub his eyes.
”The charm is working,” said Master Graograicus in an undertone, as he continued his labors; ”this fellow has given me a lot of trouble! but I have succeeded at last! As you see, he is entering the somnambulistic state; before long he will speak.”