IX.
THE MAGICIAN.
On his return to the khan, as Aleph entered the Egyptian quarter, he began to notice the papyrus placards of which Shaphan had spoken; and, as he advanced, they became numerous—pasted on walls, booths, boxes, whatever conspicuous object presented itself. Had the art of printing been known to Simon, he plainly would have been a famous advertiser. As it was, he had made a very liberal use of the scribes of the city. Aleph stopped to read one immense sheet, beautifully written on, which a boy was carrying aloft on a pole. This sheet informed the public that Simon, the greatest magician and master of occult wisdom in modern times, would exhibit his wonderful powers this eve at the khan near the Serapeum at the rate of two drachmas a head. The price for admission had been put so low in order that the entertainment might be within reach of all. Let all come. They would see the greatest show on earth. Whatever the wizards of Thessaly, the astrologers of Chaldea, the sybils of Magna Grecia, the soothsayers and diviners of Etruria, and the sorcerers and necromancers of ancient Egypt and India could do, he was able to do—and more. Let all the people come and see. For an extra didrachma there would be seats reserved. Seats or no seats, the people were sure to get more than their money’s worth. If any wanted their fortunes told by the stars; if they wanted to know the critical times in their lives so that they might be on their guard; if they wanted to know what would be the best times for any undertakings they have in mind, or to have such helps in them as the elemental spirits can give, or to compound love potions, or to communicate with distant and even dead friends, or to defend themselves from enemies—in short, whoever wanted help of any kind that he could not get by the common and natural means, now was the opportunity of a life-time; let him come to Simon, the great magician of the age. He will not be disappointed. Admission to the court of the khan one didrachma—seats under the piazza two didrachmas.
Cimon was found waiting just outside the khan; from the inside of which came the sound of busy axes and hammers. He proposed that they should go for their evening meal to some quiet stall in the neighboring Egyptian market and there talk over their concerns. Accordingly, they were soon established in a nook by themselves, and Aleph proceeded to relate his experiences during the day thus far.
In return, Cimon said that the object of Seti in calling him aside was to ask whether he had as yet seen any sign of a hostile movement on the part of the son of the Governor; also whether he knew of any reason why Malus would favor such a movement. The first question he answered in the negative: as to the second, he was obliged to say that there were circumstances that made it likely that Malus would favor any scheme to their disadvantage of which he might happen to learn. On this, Seti said that, knowing well as he did the violent and revengeful character of the young Roman, he had thought it best to have his movements watched; and had discovered that, since the disturbance at the Diapleuston, and especially within the last twenty-four hours, there had been considerable stealthy intercourse between him and Malus. It looked very much as if they were concerting mischief. After what Cimon had told him he had no doubt as to the objects of the mischief. Might he ask whether the circumstances referred to were such as to enlist Malus thoroughly in any enterprise, however bad, against himself and his young friend? To this Cimon had answered that the circumstances were indeed such that their entire disappearance from the scene would free Malus from a great peril.
“Then,” said Seti emphatically, “he will join the Roman in trying to do you all the mischief he can. He will have no scruple as to way or means.”
After Aleph and Rachel had left, Seti had still detained him for a while with various examples of the unscrupulous craft and daring of the man—so plainly for the purpose of putting them on their guard against him that he was almost on the point of explaining their relations to Malus in full; especially after Seti had concluded with asking that for the sake of greater security they would exchange their present quarters for rooms in the Serapeum. “It was an unusual thing to do, not to say unprecedented; but the circumstances were unusual.” So he begged that they would transfer themselves without delay. But Cimon thought that he ought to confer with Aleph about the matter before accepting the offer. So, thanking the priest for it, and promising to report the next day, he took leave.
“Would it not have been well,” said Aleph, “to leave in the hands of the high-priest that parcel which I saw you making up last evening of the results of your inquiries as to Malus—I mean for safe keeping?”
“That is what I did,” replied the Greek; “going back for that purpose after I had made another visit and added to the parcel some account of that.”