I had my doubts; and I thought I could perceive, one after
another, many impalpable signs of extreme old age.

Then, all at once, he grew restive under my fixed gaze.

"But it is not about me that we need to waste time now," he said,
impatiently. "You have seen what two of my instruments contain; would
you like now to examine the contents of the other two?"

I answered in the affirmative.

"The two you have looked into are gratuitous," he continued. "For what
you beheld in them there is no charge. But a sight of the visions in
the other two or in either one of them must be paid for. So far, you
are welcome as my guest; but if you wish to see any more you must pay
the price."

I asked what the charge was, as I thrust my hand into my pocket to be
certain that I had my purse with me.

He saw my gesture, and he smiled once more.

"The visions I can set before you in those two instruments you have not
yet looked into are visions of your own life," he said. "In that stand
there," and he indicated one behind my back, "you can see five of the
most important episodes of your past."

I withdrew my hand from my pocket. "I thank you," I said, "but I know
my own past, and I have no wish to see it again, however cheap the
spectacle."

"Then you will be more interested in the fourth of my instruments," he
said, as he waved his thin, delicate hand towards the stand which stood
in front of me. "In this you can see your future!"

I made an involuntary step forward; and then, at a second thought, I
shrank back again.

"The price of this is not high," he continued, "and it is not payable
in money."

"How, then, should I buy it?" I asked, doubtingly.

"In life!" he answered, gravely. "The vision of life must be paid for
in life itself. For every ten years of the future which I may unroll
before you here, you must assign me a year of life--twelve months--to
do with as I will."

Strange as it seems to me now, I did not doubt that he could do as he
declared. I hesitated, and then I fixed my resolve.

"Thank you," I said, and I saw that he was awaiting my decision
eagerly. "Thank you again for what I have already seen and for what you
proffer me. But my past I have lived once, and there is no need to turn
over again the leaves of that dead record. And the future I must face
as best I may, the more bravely, I think, that I do not know what it
holds in store for me."

"The price is low," he urged.

"It must be lower still,