people were not accustomed to the sight of
negroes; and, moreover, the figure and the
costume of the slave were altogether strange
and fantastic. His entire little person was
completely covered with gold and precious
stones. On beholding him, Louis took him
for a gnome—one of those genii who, in the
bowels of the earth, are deputed to keep
guard over the treasures there. He inquired
for Master Guillaume, trembling all the
while to receive an answer; for the aspect of
the tiny creature was by no means calculated
to inspire confidence. The gnome—I am
unable to state exactly whether he was a negro
or a real gnome—the gnome introduced him
into an immense saloon, where his master was
reading by the light of a large fire. Nor can
I tell you whether Louis's imagination caused
him to see things differently to what they
actually were; or whether this fire were
supernatural; or whether the effect was
produced by ordinary causes; but, to Louis's
eyes, the fire was reflected in bright blue light
all around the walls of the room.

"The old man's appearance was venerable.
He had a long white beard; his silver locks
were partially hidden beneath a violet cap;
the rest of his costume was equally in keeping
with his necromantic reputation. Immediately
that Louis was announced, he embraced
him and talked about his father with tears in
his eyes; and then, after this outburst of
feeling, he ordered dinner to be served
directly. The repast was of exquisite delicacy;
the wines, especially, were most delicious.
Louis ate and drank to his heart's content.
He afterwards, however, thought he remembered
that Master Guillaume, who ate nothing
but rice, and drank nothing but water, knitted
his brows two or three times when he saw
him fill and empty his glass; but the
recollection was so utterly vague, that he never
could feel quite certain of the fact. 'My
son,' said Master Guillaume, 'your father was
my dearest friend. His simple tastes and his
contempt for earthly things made him refuse
to profit by my friendship during the whole
of his life. If you are not degenerated from
so honourable a parentage, you shall inherit
it, according to his wish; and it is no
contemptible inheritance that I offer you, as you
yourself shall judge by and bye. We will
now descend into my laboratory. There, we
will talk about it, and I will then see what
is to be done for you.'

"Guillaume and Louis then descended, by
a dark and narrow staircase, for more than
an hour. At the end of that time they
found themselves in a large apartment richly
hung with purple. It was illumined by
lamps that shed a purple light, and gave an
extraordinary air to the necromancer's
subterranean retreat. Louis was struck with
complete astonishment. When they were both
seated upon some downy cushions, Master
Guillaume pulled a bell, whose golden wire was
hidden in one of the folds of the drapery. The
gnome instantly made his appearance. Louis
was alarmed at the apparition of the little
creature who, in less than a couple of
seconds, had passed a distance which had cost
them an hour to traverse. The gnome remained
standing, awaiting in silence the orders of his
superior. 'Zano,' said Master Guillaume,
'there is one thing of importance which I
have forgotten. It will perhaps be late when
we leave this place; let a couple of partridges
be prepared for our supper, one for each of
us; but do not put them down to roast until
I give the order.'

"After a long conversation, in which Master
Guillaume questioned Louis about his past
life, his habits, and his tastes, he said: 'My
son, in consideration of the friendship which
I still bear to your father, even beyond the
grave, I will give you whatever you choose
to ask me. But I am able to grant you only
one single thing; and therefore, think of it
carefully beforehand. My power extends no
further than that.'— 'Master,' replied Louis,
'I have often pondered in my mind which is
the most useful thing in life, and I am so
thoroughly convinced that the surest and
most fruitful source of enjoyment is to be the
possessor of a large fortune, that I do not
hesitate to ask you for it.'—'So be it as you
desire,' the old man replied with gentleness;
'but first allow me to warn you of the dangers
which your choice will draw around your
head. Men are like ships; they founder the
more easily, in proportion as they are heavier
laden with wealth. However honourable one
may feel one's self to be, it is best to avoid
the possession of too powerful and efficacious
weapons. The sheep, perhaps, would be as
ferocious as the wolf, if its teeth were as
strong and sharp as those of its enemy.'—
The old man here added a multitude of reflections
and examples, which I will not relate to
you, because my mother, who probably did
not hear a word about them, repeated nothing
of the sort to me: only Louis afterwards
stated that his aged friend's eloquence was
by no means amusing; and that he passed
all the time which it pleased Master
Guillaume to employ in making his peroration, in
thinking of the use he would make of his
future riches, and of the pleasures which he
was upon the point of enjoying.'

"Master Guillaume concluded his long
discourse in the very same words with which
he had commenced it: 'So be it as you
desire. Here is a little casket filled with gold.
Whenever it is empty you will come to me,
and I will fill it for you again. I shall not
trouble you with any questions about the use
which you make of your money. I only beg
you not to visit me till the contents of the
casket are entirely expended. More frequent
applications would be a useless disturbance
of my favourite pursuits. On the other hand,
you have no occasion to hoard. If I die
before you, the casket will continue to fill
itself, according as you empty it.'  Master