the fifth string-第4章

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VI



When　Diotti　left　New　York　so

precipitately　he　took　passage

on　a　coast　line　steamer　sailing　for　the

Bahama　Islands。　Once　there；　he　leased

a　small　cay；　one　of　a　group　off　the　main

land；　and　lived　alone　and　unattended；

save　for　the　weekly　visits　of　an　old

fisherman　and　his　son；　who　brought

supplies　of　provisions　from　the　town

miles　away。　His　dwelling…place；

surrounded　with　palmetto　trees；　was　little

more　than　a　rough　shelter。　Diotti　arose

at　daylight；　and　after　a　simple　repast；

betook　himself　to　practise。　Hour　after

hour　he　would　let　his　muse　run　riot

with　his　fingers。　Lovingly　he　wooed

the　strings　with　plaintive　song；　then

conquering　and　triumphant　would　be

his　theme。　But　neither　satisfied　him。

The　vague　dream　of　a　melody　more

beautiful　than　ever　man　had　heard

dwelt　hauntingly　on　the　borders　of　his

imagination；　but　was　no　nearer　realization

than　when　he　began。　As　the　day's

work　closed；　he　wearily　placed　the

violin　within　its　case；　murmuring；

‘‘Not　yet；　not　yet；　I　have　not　found　it。''



Days　passed；　weeks　crept　slowly

on；　still　he　worked；　but　always

with　the　same　result。　One　day；

feverish　and　excited；　he　played　on

in　monotone　almost　listless。　His　tired；

over…wrought　brain　denied　a　further

thought。　His　arm　and　fingers　refused

response　to　his　will。　With　an　uncontrollable

outburst　of　grief　and　anger　he

dashed　the　violin　to　the　floor；　where　it

lay　a　hopeless　wreck。　Extending　his

arms　he　cried；　in　the　agony　of　despair：

‘‘It　is　of　no　use！　If　the　God　of　heaven

will　not　aid　me；　I　ask　the　prince　of

darkness　to　come。''



A　tall；　rather　spare；　but　well…made

and　handsome　man　appeared　at　the

door　of　the　hut。　His　manner　was　that　of

one　evidently　conversant　with　the　usages

of　good　society。



‘‘I　beg　pardon；''　said　the　musician；

surprised　and　visibly　nettled　at　the

intrusion；　and　then　with　forced　politeness

he　asked：　‘‘To　whom　am　I　indebted

for　this　unexpected　visit？''



‘‘Allow　me；''　said　the　stranger　taking

a　card　from　his　case　and　handing

it　to　the　musician；　who　read：　‘‘Satan；''

and；　in　the　lower　left…hand　corner

‘‘Prince　of　Darkness。''



‘‘I　am　the　Prince；''　said　the　stranger；

bowing　low。



There　was　no　hint　of　the　pavement…

made　ruler　in　the　information　he　gave；

but　rather　of　the　desire　of　one　gentleman

to　set　another　right　at　the　beginning。

The　musician　assumed　a　position

of　open…mouthed　wonder；　gazing

steadily　at　the　visitor。



‘‘Satan？''　he　whispered　hoarsely。



‘‘You　need　help　and　advice；''　said

the　visitor；　his　voice　sounding　like　that

of　a　disciple　of　the　healing　art；　and

implying　that　he　had　thoroughly　diagnosed

the　case。



‘‘No；　no；''　cried　the　shuddering

violinist；　‘‘go　away。　I　do　not　need　you。''



‘‘I　regret　I　can　not　accept　that

statement　as　gospel　truth；''　said　Satan；

sarcastically；　‘‘for　if　ever　a　man　needed

help；　you　are　that　man。''



‘‘But　not　from　you；''　replied　Diotti。



‘‘That　statement　is　discredited　also

by　your　outburst　of　a　few　moments　ago

when　you　called　upon　me。''



‘‘I　do　not　need　you；''　reiterated　the

musician。　‘‘I　will　have　none　of　you！''

and　he　waved　his　arm　toward　the　door；

as　if　he　desired　the　interview　to　end。



‘‘I　came　at　your　behest；　actuated

entirely　by　kindness　of　heart；''　said　Satan。



Diotti　laughed　derisively；　and　Satan；

showing　just　the　slightest　feeling　at

Diotti's　behavior；　said　reprovingly：　‘‘If

you　will　listen　a　moment；　and　not　be　so

rude　to　an　utter　stranger；　we　may　reach

some　conclusion　to　your　benefit。''



‘‘Get　thee　behind''



‘‘I　know　exactly　what　you　were　about

to　say。　Have　no　fears　on　that　score。

I　have　no　demands　to　make　and　no

impossible　compacts　to　insist　upon。''



‘‘I　have　heard　of　you　before；''　know…

ingly　spoke　the　violinist　nodding　his

head　sadly。



‘‘No　doubt　you　have；''　smilingly。

‘‘My　reputation；　which　has　suffered　at

the　hands　of　irresponsible　people；　is　not

of　the　best；　and　places　me　at　times　in

awkward　positions。　But　I　am　beginning

to　live　it　down。''　The　stranger

looked　contrition　itself。　‘‘To　prove　my

sincerity　I　desire　to　help　you　win　her

love；''　emphasizing　her。



‘‘How　can　you　help　me？''



‘‘Very　easily。　You　have　been　wasting

time；　energy　and　health　in　a　wild

desire　to　play　better。　The　trouble　lies

not　with　you。''



‘‘Not　with　me？''　interrupted　the

violinist；　now　thoroughly　interested。



‘‘The　trouble　lies　not　with　you；''

repeated　the　visitor；　‘‘but　with　the　miserable

violin　you　have　been　using　and　have

just　destroyed；''　and　he　pointed　to　the

shattered　instrument。



Tears　welled　from　the　poor　violinist's

eyes　as　he　gazed　on　the　fragments　of　his

beloved　violin；　the　pieces　lying　scattered

about　as　the　result　of　his　unfortunate

anger。



‘‘It　was　a　Stradivarius；''　said　Diotti；

sadly。



‘‘Had　it　been　a　Stradivarius；　an　Amati

or　a　Guarnerius；　or　a　host　of　others　rolled

into　one；　you　would　not　have　found　in

it　the　melody　to　win　the　heart　of　the

woman　you　love。　Get　a　better　and

more　suitable　instrument。''



‘‘Where　is　one？''　earnestly　interrogated

Diotti；　vaguely　realizing　that

Satan　knew。



‘‘In　my　possession；''　Satan　replied。



‘‘She　would　hate　me　if　she　knew　I

had　recourse　to　the　powers　of　darkness

to　gain　her　love；''　bitterly　interposed

Diotti。



Satan；　wincing　at　this　uncomplimentary

allusion　to　himself；　replied　rather

warmly：　‘‘My　dear　sir；　were　it　not　for

the　fact　that　I　feel　in　particularly　good

spirits　this　morning；　I　should　resent　your

ill…timed　remarks　and　leave　you　to　end

your　miserable　existence　with　rope　or

pistol；''　and　Satan　pantomimed　both

suicidal　contingencies。



‘‘Do　you　want　the　violin　or　not？''



‘‘I　might　look　at　it；''　said　Diotti；

resolving　mentally　that　he　could　go　so

far　without　harm。



‘‘Very　well；''　said　Satan。　He　gave

a　long　whistle。



An　old　man；　bearing　a　violin　case；

came　within　the　room。　He　bowed　to

the　wondering　Diotti；　and　proceeded　to

open　the　case。　Taking　the　instrument

out　the　old　man　fondled　it　with　loving

and　tender　solicitude；　pointing　out　its

many　beautiesthe　exquisite　blending

of　the　curves；　the　evenness　of　the　grain；

the　peculiar　coloring；　the　lovely　contour

of　the　neck；　the　graceful　outlines　of　the

body；　the　scroll；　rivaling　the　creations

of　the　ancient　sculptors；　the　solidity　of

the　bridge　and　its　elegantly　carved　heart；

and；　waxing　exceedingly　enthusiastic；

holding　up　the　instrument　and　looking

at　it　as　one　does　at　a　cluster　of　gems；　he

added；　‘‘the　adjustment　of　the　strings。''



‘‘That　will　do；''　interrupted　Satan；

taking　the　violin　from　the　little　man；

who　bowed　low　and　ceremoniously

took　his　departure。　Then　the　devil；

pointing　to　the　instrument；　asked：　‘‘Isn't

it　a　beauty？''



The　musician；　eying　it　keenly；

replied：　‘‘Yes；　it　is；　but　not　the　kind　of

violin　I　play　on。''



‘‘Oh；　I　see；''　carelessly　observed　the

other；　‘‘you　refer　to　that　extra　string。''



‘‘Yes；''　answered　the　puzzled　violinist；

examining　it　closely。



‘‘Allow　me　to　explain　the　peculiar

characteristics　of　this　magnificent　instrument；''

said　his　satanic　majesty。　‘‘This

string；''　pointing　to　the　G；　‘‘is　the

string　of　pity；　this　one；''　referring　to　the

third；　‘‘is　the　string　of　hope；　this；''

plunking　the　A；　‘‘is　attuned　to　love；

while　this　one；　the　E　string；　gives　forth

sounds　of　joy。



‘‘You　will　observe；''　went　on　the

visitor；　noting　the　intense　interest　displayed

by　the　violinist；　‘‘that　the　position

of　the　strings　is　the　same　as　on　any

other　violin；　and　therefore　will　require

no　additional　study　on　your　part。''



‘‘But　that　extra　string？''　interrupted

Diotti；　designating　the　middle　one　on

the　violin；　a　vague　foreboding　rising

within　him。



‘‘That；''　said　Mephistopheles；

solemnly；　and　with　no　pretense　of　sophistry；

‘‘is　the　string　of　death；　and　he　who