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to end。
‘‘I came at your behest； actuated entirely by kindness of heart；'' said
Satan。
Diotti laughed derisively； and Satan； showing just the slightest feeling
at Diotti's behavior； said reprovingly： ‘‘If you will listen a moment； and
not be so rude to an utter stranger； we may reach some conclusion to your
benefit。''
‘‘Get thee behind''
‘‘I know exactly what you were about to say。 Have no fears on that
score。 I have no demands to make and no impossible compacts to insist
upon。''
‘‘I have heard of you before；'' know… ingly spoke the violinist nodding
his head sadly。
‘‘No doubt you have；'' smilingly。 ‘‘My reputation； which has suffered
at the hands of irresponsible people； is not of the best； and places me at
times in awkward positions。 But I am beginning to live it down。'' The
stranger looked contrition itself。 ‘‘To prove my sincerity I desire to help
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The Fifth String
you win her love；'' emphasizing her。
‘‘How can you help me？''
‘‘Very easily。 You have been wasting time； energy and health in a wild
desire to play better。 The trouble lies not with you。''
‘‘Not with me？'' interrupted the violinist； now thoroughly interested。
‘‘The trouble lies not with you；'' repeated the visitor； ‘‘but with the
miserable violin you have been using and have just destroyed；'' and he
pointed to the shattered instrument。
Tears welled from the poor violinist's eyes as he gazed on the
fragments of his beloved violin； the pieces lying scattered about as the
result of his unfortunate anger。
‘‘It was a Stradivarius；'' said Diotti； sadly。
‘‘Had it been a Stradivarius； an Amati or a Guarnerius； or a host of
others rolled into one； you would not have found in it the melody to win
the heart of the woman you love。 Get a better and more suitable
instrument。''
‘‘Where is one？'' earnestly interrogated Diotti； vaguely realizing that
Satan knew。
‘‘In my possession；'' Satan replied。
‘‘She would hate me if she knew I had recourse to the powers of
darkness to gain her love；'' bitterly interposed Diotti。
Satan； wincing at this uncomplimentary allusion to himself； replied
rather warmly： ‘‘My dear sir； were it not for the fact that I feel in
particularly good spirits this morning； I should resent your ill…timed
remarks and leave you to end your miserable existence with rope or
pistol；'' and Satan pantomimed both suicidal contingencies。
‘‘Do you want the violin or not？''
‘‘I might look at it；'' said Diotti； resolving mentally that he could go so
far without harm。
‘‘Very well；'' said Satan。 He gave a long whistle。
An old man； bearing a violin case； came within the room。 He bowed to
the wondering Diotti； and proceeded to open the case。 Taking the
instrument out the old man fondled it with loving and tender solicitude；
pointing out its many beautiesthe exquisite blending of the curves； the
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The Fifth String
evenness of the grain； the peculiar coloring； the lovely contour of the neck；
the graceful outlines of the body； the scroll； rivaling the creations of the
ancient sculptors； the solidity of the bridge and its elegantly carved heart；
and； waxing exceedingly enthusiastic； holding up the instrument and
looking at it as one does at a cluster of gems； he added； ‘‘the adjustment of
the strings。''
‘‘That will do；'' interrupted Satan； taking the violin from the little man；
who bowed low and ceremoniously took his departure。 Then the devil；
pointing to the instrument； asked： ‘‘Isn't it a beauty？''
The musician； eying it keenly； replied： ‘‘Yes； it is； but not the kind of
violin I play on。''
‘‘Oh； I see；'' carelessly observed the other； ‘‘you refer to that extra
string。''
‘‘Yes；'' answered the puzzled violinist； examining it closely。
‘‘Allow me to explain the peculiar characteristics of this magnificent
instrument；'' said his satanic majesty。 ‘‘This string；'' pointing to the G； ‘‘is
the string of pity； this one；'' referring to the third； ‘‘is the string of hope；
this；'' plunking the A； ‘‘is attuned to love； while this one； the E string；
gives forth sounds of joy。
‘‘You will observe；'' went on the visitor； noting the intense interest
displayed by the violinist； ‘‘that the position of the strings is the same as
on any other violin； and therefore will require no additional study on your
part。''
‘‘But that extra string？'' interrupted Diotti； designating the middle one
on the violin； a vague foreboding rising within him。
‘‘That；'' said Mephistopheles； solemnly； and with no pretense of
sophistry； ‘‘is the string of death； and he who plays upon it dies at once。''
‘‘Thestringofdeath！'' repeated the violinist almost inaudibly。
‘‘Yes； the string of death；'' Satan repeated； ‘‘and he who plays upon it
dies at once。 But；'' he added cheerfully； ‘‘that need not worry you。 I
noticed a marvelous facility in your arm work。 Your staccato and spiccato
are wonderful。 Every form of bowing appears child's play to you。 It will be
easy for you to avoid touching the string。''
‘‘Why avoid it？ Can it not be cut off？''
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The Fifth String
‘‘Ah； that's the rub。 If you examine the violin closely you will find that
the string of death is made up of the extra lengths of the other four strings。
To cut it off would destroy the others； and then pity； hope； love and joy
would cease to exist in the soul of the violin。''
‘‘How like life itself；'' Diotti reflected； ‘‘pity； hope； love； joy end in
death； and through death they are born again。''
‘‘That's the idea； precisely；'' said Satan； evidently relieved by Diotti's
logic and quick perception。
The violinist examined the instrument with the practised eye of an
expert； and turning to Satan said： ‘‘The four strings are beautifully white
and transparent； but this one is black and odd looking。
‘‘What is it wrapped with？'' eagerly inquired Diotti； examining the
death string with microscopic care。
‘‘The fifth string was added after an unfortunate episode in the Garden
of Eden； in which I was somewhat concerned；'' said Satan； soberly。 ‘‘It is
wrapped with strands of hair from the first mother of man。'' Impressively
then he offered the violin to Diotti。
‘‘I dare not take it；'' said the perplexed musician； ‘‘it's from''
‘‘Yes； it is directly from there； but I brought it from heaven when II
left；'' said the fallen angel； with remorse in his voice。 ‘‘It was my constant
companion there。 But no one in my domainnot I； myselfcan play upon
it now； for it will respond neither to our longing for pity； hope； love； joy；
nor even death；'' and sadly and retrospectively Satan gazed into vacancy；
then； after a long pause： ‘‘Try the instrument！''
Diotti placed the violin in position and drew the bow across the string
of joy； improvising on it。 Almost instan