I Therefore Entered Into A Treaty With Him, In
Virtue Of Which He Was To Descend With Me Into The Tombs Near The
Pyramids, And There Evoke The Devil.
The negotiation lasted some
time, for Dthemetri, as in duty bound, tried to beat down the
wizard as much
As he could, and the wizard, on his part, manfully
stuck up for his price, declaring that to raise the devil was
really no joke, and insinuating that to do so was an awesome crime.
I let Dthemetri have his way in the negotiation, but I felt in
reality very indifferent about the sum to be paid, and for this
reason, namely, that the payment (except a very small present which
I might make or not, as I chose) was to be CONTINGENT ON SUCCESS.
At length the bargain was made, and it was arranged that after a
few days, to be allowed for preparation, the wizard should raise
the devil for two pounds ten, play or pay - no devil, no piastres.
The wizard failed to keep his appointment. I sent to know why the
deuce he had not come to raise the devil. The truth was, that my
Mahomet had gone to the mountain. The plague had seized him, and
he died.
Although the plague had now spread terrible havoc around me, I did
not see very plainly any corresponding change in the looks of the
streets until the seventh day after my arrival. I then first
observed that the city was SILENCED.
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