money; you will
starve on your merit; you can only get money from me. Come, my friend,
how much is it? I ask the easiest interest in the world: old Mordecai,
the usurer, has made you pay twice as heavily before now: nothing but
the signature of a bond, which is a mere ceremony, and the transfer of
an article which, in itself, is a supposition--a valueless, windy,
uncertain property of yours, called by some poet of your own, I think,
an _animula_, _vagula_, _blandula_--bah! there is no use beating about
the bush--I mean _a soul_. Come, let me have it; you know you will
sell it some other way, and not get such good pay for your
bargain!"--and, having made this speech, the Devil pulled out from his
fob a sheet as big as a double _Times_, only there was a different
_stamp_ in the corner.

It is useless and tedious to describe law documents: lawyers only love
to read them; and they have as good in Chitty as any that are to be
found in the Devil's own; so nobly have the apprentices emulated the
skill of the master. Suffice it to say, that poor Gambouge read over
the paper, and signed it. He was to have all he wished for seven
years, and at the end of that time was to become the property of
the--; =provided= that during the course of the seven years, every
single wish which he might form should be gratified by the other of
the contracting parties; otherwise the deed became null and nonavenue,
and Gambouge should be left "to go to the--his own way."

"You will never see me again," said Diabolus, in shaking hands with
poor Simon, on whose fingers he left such a mark as is to be seen at
this day--"never, at least, unless you want me; for everything you ask
will be performed in the most quiet and every-day manner: believe me,
it is the best and most gentlemanlike, and avoids anything like
scandal. But if you set me about anything which is extraordinary, and
out of the course of nature, as it were, come I must, you know; and of
this you are the best judge." So saying, Diabolus disappeared; but
whether up the chimney, through the keyhole, or by any other aperture
or contrivance, nobody knows. Simon Gambouge was left in a fever of
delight, as, heaven forgive me! I believe many a worthy man would be,
if he were allowed an opportunity to make a similar bargain.

"Heigho!" said Simon. "I wonder whether this be a reality or a
dream.--I am sober, I know; for who will give me credit for the means
to be drunk? and as for sleeping, I'm to