the fifth string(第五根线)-第5节
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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？''
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The Fifth String
‘‘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
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The Fifth String
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！''
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The Fifth String
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 and everybody at large who would not concede that the
attractions managed by Perkins were the ‘‘greatest on earth。''
‘‘We'll never see his like again come in！'' this last in answer to a
knock。
Diotti appeared at the open door。 Perkins jumped like one shot from a
catapult； and rushing toward the silent figure in the doorway exclaimed：
‘‘Bless my soul； are you a ghost？''
‘‘A substantial one；'' said Diotti with a smile。
‘‘Are you really here？'' continued the astonished impresario； using
Diotti's arm as a pump handle and pinching him at the same time。
When they were seated Perkins plied Diotti with all manner of
questions； ‘‘How did it happen？'' ‘‘How did you escape？'' and the like； all
of which Diotti parried with monosyllabic replies； finally saying： ‘‘I was
dissatisfied with my playing and went away to study。''
‘‘Do you know that the failure to fulfill your contract has cost me at
least ten thousand dollars？'' said the shrewd manager； the commercial side
of his nature asserting itself。
‘‘All of which I will pay；'' quietly replied the artist。 ‘‘Besides I am
ready to play now； and you can announce a concert within a week if you
like。''
‘‘If I like？'' cried the hustling Perkins。 ‘‘Here； James；'' calling his
office boy； ‘‘run down to the printer's and give him this；'' making a note of
the various sizes of ‘‘paper'' he desired； ‘‘and tell Mr。 Tompkins that Diotti
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The Fifth String
is back and will give a concert next Tuesday。 Tell Smith to prepare the
newspaper ‘ads' and notices immediately。''
In an hour Perkins had the entire machinery of his office in motion。
Within twenty…four hours New York had several versions of the
disappearance and return； all leading to one common pointthat Diotti
would give a concert the coming Tuesday evening。
The announcement of the reappearance of the Tuscan contained a line
to the effect that the violinist would play for the first time his new suitea
meditation on the emotions。
He had not seen Mildred。
As he came upon the stage that night the lights were turned low； and
naught but the shadowy outlines of player and violin were seen。 His
reception by the audience was not enthusiastic。 They evidently
remembered the disappointment caused by his unexpected disappearance；
but this unfriendly attitude soon gave way to evidences of kindlier
feelings。
Mildred was there； more beautif
