Page:The Necromancer, or, The Tale of the Black Forest Vol. 1.djvu/158

 last words in a jocose tone, to secure a fair retreat, in case he should not relish my proposal.

"How else," resumed I, "could one get at him, than by forcing him to wait on us? Didst thou not lately swear to have him conjured hither by Volkert, if he should give us the slip?"

My friend seemed at first to be offended, looking upon my proposal as an unseasonable joke; but when I went on talking of Volkert, and his occult arts, he asked me at last, "Seriously, friend, dost thou believe in the secret arts of that fellow?"

"I believe nothing," replied I, "what I have not seen; let us make a trial how far the common talk of his supernatural arts deserves being credited."

He stared at me with astonishment, asking me, after a short pause,