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What's "Labbaik"? asked Denzil.
The pious "Adsum" of the Pilgrim when he reaches the holy ground of Mecca. So you may imagine the horror of the Muslim on hearing it float cheerfully up from Hell!
Talking of Black Magic, said the big man, the belief in it is probably as strong as ever. I myself am inclined to laugh: "Who believes in Black Magic proves himself to be bewitched!" I had a horrible case of it once—I shudder yet!
I could imagine the time when my poor friend's disease was epidemic; when the panic madness seized even on the government'
I hae my doots! said the scholar. Popular beliefs furnish convenient stalking-horses for political subterfuge.
No! said the Doctor. Disease of the mind as well as that of the body attacks all classes. While man is as subject to suggestion as he is, the simulation of belief is almost surrender to the belief itself. Constantine probably became a real Christian in the end.
Tell us about your friend, though! from Basil.
"I hitched it into verse and good," said the big man. But as it's a tale with a moral, please imagine yourselves to be a set of children. I wrote it for them. Here goes!
THE SUSPICIOUS EARL
There was a poor bedevilled Earl
Who saw a Witch in every girl,
A Wehr-Wolf every time one smiled,
A budding Vampire in a child,
A Sorcerer in every man,
A deep-laid Necromantic plan
In every casual word; withal
Cloaked in its black horrific pall
A Vehmgericht obscenely grim,
And all designed—to ruin him!