But the Englishman shook his head, with an air of incredulity.
"In order to believe such a thing," said he, "I should have to see it with my own eyes—hearsay is not enough."
I attempted to efface the writing.
"No, no," said the Schoolmaster, removing it out of my reach.
"I saw the Miracle, and I implore the Royal Soul which inhabits the body of this Elephant to allow me to retain the proofs!"
Upon a sign from the Princess the Scribes were sent for. They came and unrolled before me a long scroll of white satin, and gave me a pencil dipped in gold ink.
The Englishman, with a singular grimace, put a morsel of glass in front of one of his eyes, and became observant.
Secure now of myself, not permitting myself to be embarrassed by the scrutiny of the company, I clasped the pencil firmly with the tip of my trunk, and slowly, and with deliberation, I wrote very neatly the Alphabet, from beginning to end.
"Iravata!—my faithful friend!" said the Princess, "I knew that you were more than our equal!"...
Then, with her lovely white arms she clasped my ugly trunk, and leaned her cheek against my rough skin. I felt her tears falling upon me, and trembling myself with emotion, I knelt down and wept, too.