promise you, on the word of a gentleman (_tra galant' uomini
una parola e un instrumento_), that I will not ask you to do anything
which cannot be executed even by the artists of this city.'

"Now the devil was delighted to hear this (for he was afraid he might be
called on to work miracles unheard of), and so replied:

"'_Top_! what man has done the devil can do. I'll risk the trick if you
swear that men can work it.'

"'I swear!'

"'And what is the finish?'

"'Oh, very easy. My wife who is to be is of a very pious turn, and I
want to please her. Firstly, all the work must be equal in execution to
the best by the greatest masters--painting, sculpture, and gilding.'

"'Agreed.'

"'Secondly, the subjects. Over the front door--_bisogna mettermi Gesu
Cristo onnipotente unitamente a Maria e il suo divin figlio_, _Padre_,
_Figlio e Spirito Santo_--that is, the Holy Family and Trinity, the
Virgin and Child.'

"'Wha--wha--what's that?' stammered the devil, aghast. 'It isn't fair
play--not according to the game.'

"'On every door,' continued the young man, raising his voice, and looking
severely at the devil, 'the same subject is to be repeated on a thick
gold ground, all the ultramarine to be of the very best quality, washed
in holy water.'

"'Ugh! ugh! ugh!' wailed the devil.

"'The roof is to be covered with the images of saints as pinnacles, and,
by the way, wherever you have a blank space, outside on the walls or
inside, including ceilings--just cover it with the same subjects--the
Temptation of Saint Antony or Saint--'

"'Oh, go to the devil with your saints and gold grounds!' roared the imp.
'Truly I have lost this game; fishing with a golden hook is a fool's
business. There is the compact!'

"It was night--deep, dark night--there came a blinding flash of light--an
awful crash of indescribable unearthly sound, like a thunder-voice. The
imp, taking the form of a _civetta_ or small owl, vanished through the
window in the storm-wind and rain, wailing, '_Mai finito_!'

"And it is said that to this day the small owl still perches by night on
the roof of the palace, wailing wearily--'Unfinished! unfinished!'"

* * * * *

In no country in the world has unscrupulous vigorous intellect been so
admired as in Italy, the land of the Borgias and Machiavellis. In the
rest of Europe man finds a master in the devil; in Italy he aims at
becoming the devil's master. This is deve