"I should be glad to do anything in my power to aid you," I began, wishing to do my best to pacify the little fellow; "but as for having kept you shut up for twenty centuries, why, my dear fellow, that's simply absurd, for I am only twenty-three years old now!" "Oh, see here," he answered scornfully, "that's a little more than I can stand! You've played the innocent game long enough; you can't fool me that way again. Why, I suppose you will deny that your name is Trancastro, next?" and he hopped up and down in a rage. "Tran----which? Tran----what?" I began. "That's right, that's right!" cried the little imp in a perfect fury. "Go on--deny everything!" "See here!" I cried, now out of patience with his whims, "I don't know anything about you or your Tran-what-you-may-call-him, and if you hadn't kicked up such a racket in my closet I never would have come near you!--I wish I hadn't, and then the mice would have finished you--and a good riddance!" As I paused for breath the little man held his lantern as near my face as possible, and after a long, earnest look, said with great gravity and deliberation: "I think I must have made a mistake!" Then, turning suddenly, he gave a great skip and shouted out, "And then--I am free!" "Certainly you are, so far as I am concerned," I replied carelessly; "but I can't imagine what all this fuss is about. So long as you are pleased, I suppose I must be satisfied." Meanwhile he had continued to jump and whirl about, until he dropped his lantern and it went out, leaving us in the dark. Then he calmed down enough to say, "What can _you_ know about it? You--only twenty-three years old!" He chuckled as though this were a great joke at my expense, and went on, "If you will offer me a chair and something to eat, I'll tell you the whole story." So I stepped down from the chair, lighted my student-lamp, and offered my little guest my hand. Into it he climbed, and I deposited him upon the table under the light, where I could see him plainly. He was about six inches in height and dressed in what seemed to be mouse-skin. He wore a little belt and a helmet the size of a thimble. His face was unwrinkled, but intelligent enough for any age. Seeing he was unwilling to be stared at, I broke the silence by saying, "I am sorry I can not offer you a chair--but mine are too large, I am afraid." I feared he might be hurt by the hint. "Not at all!" he replied politely, now that he had convinced himself I was not that awful Tran-somebody, "see here!" He beckoned to my favorite easy-chair. At once it rose gently into the air, and, dwindling down to a size suitable for the little wretch, dropped softly down upon the table beside him. Ignoring my exclamations, he seated himself comfortably within it, and, looking up at me, said, as though nothing had happened, "I said I would tell you all about it, didn't I?" "Yes," I answered, leaning eagerly forward. "Well, I'll not!" said he bluntly.