Chapter 32

by Herman Melville

　　SHOWING THAT THE AGE OF MAGIC AND MAGICIANS IS NOT YET OVER.While speaking or rather hissing those words, the boon companionunderwent much such a change as one reads of in fairy-books. Out of oldmaterials sprang a new creature. Cadmus glided into the snake.The cosmopolitan rose, the traces of previous feeling vanished; lookedsteadfastly at his transformed friend a moment, then, taking tenhalf-eagles from his pocket, stooped down, and laid them, one by one, ina circle round him; and, retiring a pace, waved his long tasseled pipewith the air of a necromancer, an air heightened by his costume,accompanying each wave with a solemn murmur of cabalistical words.Meantime, he within the magic-ring stood suddenly rapt, exhibiting everysymptom of a successful charm--a turned cheek, a fixed attitude, afrozen eye; spellbound, not more by the waving wand than by the teninvincible talismans on the floor."Reappear, reappear, reappear, oh, my former friend! Replace thishideous apparition with thy blest shape, and be the token of thy returnthe words, 'My dear Frank.'""My dear Frank," now cried the restored friend, cordially stepping outof the ring, with regained self-possession regaining lost identity, "Mydear Frank, what a funny man you are; full of fun as an egg of meat. Howcould you tell me that absurd story of your being in need? But I relisha good joke too well to spoil it by letting on. Of course, I humored thething; and, on my side, put on all the cruel airs you would have me.Come, this little episode of fictitious estrangement will but enhancethe delightful reality. Let us sit down again, and finish our bottle.""With all my heart," said the cosmopolitan, dropping the necromancerwith the same facility with which he had assumed it. "Yes," he added,soberly picking up the gold pieces, and returning them with a chink tohis pocket, "yes, I am something of a funny man now and then; while foryou, Charlie," eying him in tenderness, "what you say about yourhumoring the thing is true enough; never did man second a joke betterthan you did just now. You played your part better than I did mine; youplayed it, Charlie, to the life.""You see, I once belonged to an amateur play company; that accounts forit. But come, fill up, and let's talk of something else.""Well," acquiesced the cosmopolitan, seating himself, and quietlybrimming his glass, "what shall we talk about?""Oh, anything you please," a sort of nervously accommodating."Well, suppose we talk about Charlemont?""Charlemont? What's Charlemont? Who's Charlemont?""You shall hear, my dear Charlie," answered the cosmopolitan. "I willtell you the story of Charlemont, the gentleman-madman."