“Oh, yes!” “And when do you expect to have, or to become a soul?” “When he comes out here, into this world where we are.” This staggered me by its daring. Had the good magician been deceiving his sylph, or did he really believe what he promised? “What did he say about it?” I asked. “That if I would serve him now, he would serve me later.” “And how is he going to do it?” “I don’t know.” “Suppose you ask him?” “I never ask questions. I answer them.” “For instance, what sort of questions?” “I tell him where such and such a person is, and what he or she is doing.” “Can you tell him what these people are thinking?” “Not often--or not always. Sometimes I can.” “How can you tell?” “By the feel of them. If I am warm in their presence, I know they are friendly to him; if I am cold, I know they are his enemies. If I feel nothing at all, then I know that they are not thinking of him, or are indifferent.” “And your errand this evening?” “To see a lady.” “And you are not jealous?” “What is ‘jealous’?” “You are not displeased that he should interest himself in ladies?” “Why should I be?” This was a question I could not answer, not knowing the nature of sylphs. She surprised me a little, for I had supposed that all female things were jealous. But, fearing again that she might leave me, I hurried to question her further. “How did you make his acquaintance?” I asked. “He called me.” “How?” “By the incantation.” “What incantation?” “The call of the sylphs.” “Oh,” I said, “he called the sylphs and you came!” “Yes, of course. I liked him for his kindness, and I made him see me.” “How did you manage it?” “I dazzled his eyes until he closed them, and then he could see me.” “Can he always see you now?” “No, but he knows I am there.” “He can see you sometimes still?” “Yes, often.” “And when he saw you first?” “He was delighted, and called me loving names, and made me promises.” “The promise of a soul--that first time?” “Yes.” “Then you had wanted to have a soul?” “Oh, yes!” “But why?” “Many of us want to be men. We love men--that is, most of us do.” “Why do you love men?” “It is our nature.” “But not the nature of all of you?” “There are malignant spirits of the air.” “And what will you do when you have a soul?” “I will take a body, and live on earth.” “And leave your friend whom you now serve?” “Oh, no! It is to be with him that I specially want a body.” “Then will he come back to the earth with you?” “He says so.” This again staggered me. I was becoming interested in this magician; he had a daring imagination. Could a spirit of the air develop into a human soul? I asked myself. Was the man self-deceived? Or, again, was he deceiving his lovely messenger?