Disobey me once when you become a controller of money-markets, and—out you go! More: I may leave you to linger around in air until somebody else wears your body out. [_The light trembles._ THE DEVIL It is nearly time. Remember what I say. Else better stay as you are for a short time—than for a lifetime! _You_ are only the instrument. I the player. [_The light wags. The radiance flickers above Magnus’s head. A second light rises slowly to ceiling._ THE DEVIL (_excitedly_) Now, Dutchman, get ready! Go! [_The light darts at Magnus’s head. At the same moment the storm breaks with fury. Great splotches of rain are thrown at the window-panes. The house rocks. The light (Schwartzenhopfel) sinks out of sight above Magnus’s head. The figure of Magnus is left in darkness, the only light in the room being the suspended one (Magnus), hanging from the ceiling like a hypnotized bee, and that from the cigar-lighter which falls on the face of the Devil._[2] [Footnote 2: In referring to the light thereafter, Magnus is meant.] THE DEVIL Well, Schwartzenhopfel? SCHWARTZENHOPFEL (_in Magnus’s body_) _Ach Gott!_ [_The Devil turns on the electricity in the fringed white candelabrum, whereby the room becomes pervaded with a gentle glow of light. Schwartzenhopfel rises, stretches, pats himself; throws out each leg, each arm; tries to speak, but is overcome with emotion and bursts into tears. From tears he is translated into hysterical laughter. The room begins to grow lighter, but furious rain continues outside. Schwartzenhopfel follows the light around the room, pointing at it derisively, his body doubling up with speechless laughter each time he points. The light moves away with dignity. Finally, to escape persecution, it flies out of the window._ THE DEVIL Here! That is not right. (_Satirically amused_) Driving a controller of money-markets out into the rain. [_Schwartzenhopfel, paying no attention, leaps and bounds about the room like an unwieldly baboon. Agnus reënters by hall door._ AGNUS (_shocked_) Mr. Magnus! [_Schwartzenhopfel goes on dancing until he sees Agnus in full light. Then seeing himself, in Agnus, he bursts into another roar of laughter, pointing in gleeful derision and following the harassed Agnus around, each time pointing and roaring with laughter, as he did with the light._ AGNUS (_turning_) Mr. Magnus! (_Solicitously_) What is wrong, sir? SCHWARTZENHOPFEL (_after another outbreak, hoarsely to The Devil_) Did I walk like that? Look like that? Oh, what liars are looking-glasses! THE DEVIL Men don’t see what the mirror shows them. They see what they look to see. A good-looking, intelligent, well-groomed countenance for each. SCHWARTZENHOPFEL (_to The Devil_) I don’t blame you for wanting to get rid of that! (_Pokes Agnus with his finger_) Flabby, too. AGNUS (_gasps out thoroughly shocked_) You’ve been up to your Devil’s tricks again! SCHWARTZENHOPFEL