s heavy against me, and he commanded that I should be enclosed within a bottle of[Pg 27] brass, and thrown into the Sea of El-Karkar, there to abide the Day of Doom.

Horace.

Don't think I'm believing in you. [Walking round the front of the bottle, as if to testFakrashby touching him.] I've sense enough to know you're not real!

Fakrash.

Stroke thy head and recover thy faculties! I am real, even as thou art.

Horace.

I shall come round in time! [By the table, toFakrash.] You tell me you've just come out of this bottle?

Fakrash.

Dost thou doubt that it is even as I have said?

Horace.

Well, I should have thought myself you'd take a bigger size in bottles. But of course, I couldn't doubt you if I saw you get into it again.

Fakrash.

That would be the easiest of actions! [He makes a sudden swooping movement, as though to re-enter the bottle, and then thinks better of it.] But I should[Pg 28] indeed be a silly-bearded one to do this thing, since thou mightst be tempted to seal me up once more!

Horace.

[Disappointed, and backing against table,