‘‘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
  plays　upon　it　dies　at　once。''
  ‘‘Thestringofdeath！''　repeated
  the　violinist　almost　inaudibly。
  ‘‘Yes；　the　string　of　death；''　Satan
  repeated；　‘‘and　he　who　plays　upon　it　dies
  at　once。　But；''　he　added　cheerfully；
  ‘‘that　need　not　worry　you。　I　noticed　a
  marvelous　facility　in　your　arm　work。
  Your　staccato　and　spiccato　are　wonderful。
  Every　form　of　bowing　appears
  child's　play　to　you。　It　will　be　easy　for
  you　to　avoid　touching　the　string。''
  ‘‘Why　avoid　it？　Can　it　not　be　cut　off？''
  ‘‘Ah；　that's　the　rub。　If　you
  examine　the　violin　closely　you　will　find
  that　the　string　of　death　is　made　up　of
  the　extra　lengths　of　the　other　four
  strings。　To　cut　it　off　would　destroy　the
  others；　and　then　pity；　hope；　love　and　joy
  would　cease　to　exist　in　the　soul　of　the
  violin。''
  ‘‘How　like　life　itself；''　Diotti
  reflected；　‘‘pity；　hope；　love；　joy　end　in
  death；　and　through　death　they　are　born
  again。''
  ‘‘That's　the　idea；　precisely；''　said
  Satan；　evidently　relieved　by　Diotti's
  logic　and　quick　perception。
  The　violinist　examined　the　instrument
  with　the　practised　eye　of　an　expert；　and
  turning　to　Satan　said：　‘‘The　four
  strings　are　beautifully　white　and　transparent；
  but　this　one　is　black　and　odd
  looking。
  ‘‘What　is　it　wrapped　with？''　eagerly
  inquired　Diotti；　examining　the　death
  string　with　microscopic　care。
  ‘‘The　fifth　string　was　added　after　an
  unfortunate　episode　in　the　Garden　of
  Eden；　in　which　I　was　somewhat
  concerned；''　said　Satan；　soberly。　‘‘It　is
  wrapped　with　strands　of　hair　from　the
  first　mother　of　man。''　Impressively　then
  he　offered　the　violin　to　Diotti。
  ‘‘I　dare　not　take　it；''　said　the
  perplexed　musician；　‘‘it's　from''
  ‘‘Yes；　it　is　directly　from　there；　but　I
  brought　it　from　heaven　when　II　left；''
  said　the　fallen　angel；　with　remorse　in
  his　voice。　‘‘It　was　my　constant
  companion　there。　But　no　one　in　my
  domainnot　I；　myselfcan　play　upon　it
  now；　for　it　will　respond　neither　to　our
  longing　for　pity；　hope；　love；　joy；　nor
  even　death；''　and　sadly　and　retrospectively
  Satan　gazed　into　vacancy；　then；
  after　a　long　pause：　‘‘Try　the　instrument！''
  Diotti　placed　the　violin　in　position
  and　drew　the　bow　across　the　string　of
  joy；　improvising　on　it。　Almost　instantly
  the　birds　of　the　forest　darted　hither　and
  thither；　caroling　forth　in　gladsome
  strains。　The　devil　alone　was　sad；　and
  with　emotion　said：
  ‘‘It　is　many；　many　years　since　I
  have　heard　that　string。''
  Next　the　artist　changed　to　the　string
  of　pity；　and　thoughts　of　the　world's
  sorrows　came　over　him　like　a　pall。
  ‘‘Wonderful；　most　wonderful！''　said
  the　mystified　violinist；　‘‘with　this
  instrument　I　can　conquer　the　world！''
  ‘‘Aye；　more　to　you　than　the　world；''
  said　the　tempter；　‘‘a　woman's　love。''
  A　woman's　loveto　the　despairing
  suitor　there　was　one　and　only　one　in　this
  wide；　wide　world；　and　her　words；　burning
  their　way　into　his　heart；　had　made
  this　temptation　possible：　‘‘No　droop…
  ing　Clytie　could　be　more　constant　than
  I　to　him　who　strikes　the　chord　that　is
  responsive　in　my　soul。''
  Holding　the　violin　aloft；　he　cried
  exultingly：　‘‘Henceforth　thou　art　mine；
  though　death　and　oblivion　lurk　ever
  near　thee！''
  VII
  Perkins；　seated　in　his　office；
  threw　the　morning　paper　aside。
  ‘‘It's　no　use；''　he　said；　turning　to　the
  office　boy；　‘‘I　don't　believe　they　ever
  will　find　him；　dead　or　alive。　Whoever
  put　up　the　job　on　Diotti　was　a　past
  grand　master　at　that　sort　of　thing。　The
  silent　assassin　that　lurks　in　the　shadow
  of　the　midnight　moon　is　an　explosion　of
  dynamite　compared　to　the　party　that
  made　way　with　Diotti。　You　ask；　why
  should　they　kill　him？　My　boy；　you
  don't　know　the　world。　They　were
  jealous　of　his　enormous　hit；　of　our
  dazzling　success。　Jealousy　did　it。''
  The　‘‘they''　of　Perkins　comprised
  rival　managers；　rival　artists；　newspaper
  critics　a