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〃Go about your business； you puppy； or I will take a stick to you！〃
I could not speak； I was so scared。 I knew that with his notions about
the human race Satan would consider it a matter of no consequence to
strike her dead； there being 〃plenty more〃； but my tongue stood still； I
could give her no warning。 But nothing happened； Satan remained
tranquiltranquil and indifferent。 I suppose he could not be insulted
by Ursula any more than the king could be insulted by a tumble…bug。 The
old woman jumped to her feet when she made her remark； and did it as
briskly as a young girl。 It had been many years since she had done the
like of that。 That was Satan's influence； he was a fresh breeze to the
weak and the sick； wherever he came。 His presence affected even the lean
kitten； and it skipped to the ground and began to chase a leaf。 This
surprised Ursula； and she stood looking at the creature and nodding her
head wonderingly； her anger quite forgotten。
〃What's come over it？〃 she said。 〃Awhile ago it could hardly walk。〃
〃You have not seen a kitten of that breed before；〃 said Satan。
Ursula was not proposing to be friendly with the mocking stranger； and
she gave him an ungentle look and retorted： 〃Who asked you to come here
and pester me； I'd like to know？ And what do you know about what I've
seen and what I haven't seen？〃
〃You haven't seen a kitten with the hair…spines on its tongue pointing to
the front； have you？〃
〃Nonor you； either。〃
〃Well； examine this one and see。〃
Ursula was become pretty spry； but the kitten was spryer； and she could
not catch it； and had to give it up。 Then Satan said：
〃Give it a name； and maybe it will come。〃
Ursula tried several names； but the kitten was not interested。
〃Call it Agnes。 Try that。〃
The creature answered to the name and came。 Ursula examined its tongue。
〃Upon my word； it's true！〃 she said。 〃I have not seen this kind of a cat
before。 Is it yours？〃
〃No。〃
〃Then how did you know its name so pat？〃
〃Because all cats of that breed are named Agnes； they will not answer to
any other。〃
Ursula was impressed。 〃It is the most wonderful thing！〃 Then a shadow of
trouble came into her face； for her superstitions were aroused； and she
reluctantly put the creature down； saying： 〃I suppose I must let it go； I
am not afraidno； not exactly that； though the priestwell； I've heard
peopleindeed； many people。。。 And； besides； it is quite well now and
can take care of itself。〃 She sighed； and turned to go； murmuring： 〃It
is such a pretty one； too； and would be such companyand the house is so
sad and lonesome these troubled days。。。 Miss Marget so mournful and just
a shadow； and the old master shut up in jail。〃
〃It seems a pity not to keep it；〃 said Satan。
Ursula turned quicklyjust as if she were hoping some one would
encourage her。
〃Why？〃 she asked； wistfully。
〃Because this breed brings luck。〃
〃Does it？ Is it true？ Young man； do you know it to be true？ How does
it bring luck？〃
〃Well； it brings money； anyway。〃
Ursula looked disappointed。 〃Money？ A cat bring money？ The idea！ You
could never sell it here； people do not buy cats here； one can't even
give them away。〃 She turned to go。
〃I don't mean sell it。 I mean have an income from it。 This kind is
called the Lucky Cat。 Its owner finds four silver groschen in his pocket
every morning。〃
I saw the indignation rising in the old woman's face。 She was insulted。
This boy was making fun of her。 That was her thought。 She thrust her
hands into her pockets and straightened up to give him a piece of her
mind。 Her temper was all up； and hot。 Her mouth came open and let out
three words of a bitter sentence；。。。 then it fell silent； and the anger
in her face turned to surprise or wonder or fear； or something； and she
slowly brought out her hands from her pockets and opened them and held
them so。 In one was my piece of money； in the other lay four silver
groschen。 She gazed a little while； perhaps to see if the groschen would
vanish away； then she said； fervently：
〃It's trueit's trueand I'm ashamed and beg forgiveness； O dear master
and benefactor！〃 And she ran to Satan and kissed his hand； over and over
again； according to the Austrian custom。
In her heart she probably believed it was a witch…cat and an agent of the
Devil； but no matter； it was all the more certain to be able to keep its
contract and furnish a daily good living for the family； for in matters
of finance even the piousest of our peasants would have more confidence
in an arrangement with the Devil than with an archangel。 Ursula started
homeward； with Agnes in her arms； and I said I wished I had her privilege
of seeing Marget。
Then I caught my breath； for we were there。 There in the parlor； and
Marget standing looking at us； astonished。 She was feeble and pale； but
I knew that those conditions would not last in Satan's atmosphere； and it
turned out so。 I introduced Satanthat is； Philip Traumand we sat
down and talked。 There was no constraint。 We were simple folk； in our
village； and when a stranger was a pleasant person we were soon friends。
Marget wondered how we got in without her hearing us。 Traum said the
door was open； and we walked in and waited until she should turn around
and greet us。 This was not true； no door was open； we entered through
the walls or the roof or down the chimney； or somehow； but no matter；
what Satan wished a person to believe； the person was sure to believe；
and so Marget was quite satisfied with that explanation。 And then the
main part of her mind was on Traum； anyway； she couldn't keep her eyes
off him； he was so beautiful。 That gratified me； and made me proud。 I
hoped he would show off some； but he didn't。 He seemed only interested
in being friendly and telling lies。 He said he was an orphan。 That made
Marget pity him。 The water came into her eyes。 He said he had never
known his mamma； she passed away while he was a young thing； and said his
papa was in shattered health； and had no property to speak ofin fact；
none of any earthly valuebut he had an uncle in business down in the
tropics； and he was very well off and had a monopoly； and it was from
this uncle that he drew his support。 The very mention of a kind uncle
was enough to remind Marget of her own； and her eyes filled again。 She
said she hoped their two uncles would meet； some day。 It made me
shudder。 Philip said he hoped so； too； and that made me shudder again。
〃Maybe they will；〃 said Marget。 〃Does your uncle travel much？〃
〃Oh yes； he goes all about； he has business everywhere。〃
And so they went on chatting； and poor Marget forgot her sorrow for one
little while； anyway。 It was probably the only really bright and cheery
hour she had known lately。 I saw she liked Philip； and I knew she would。
And when he told her he was studying for the ministry I could see that
she liked him better than ever。 And then； when he promised to get her
admitted to the jail so that she could see her uncle； that was the
capstone。 He said he would give the guards a little present； and she
must always go in the evening after dark； and say nothing； 〃but just show
this paper and pass in； and show it again when you come out〃and he
scribbled some queer marks on the paper and gave it to her； and she was
ever so thankful； and right away was in a fever for the sun to go down；
for in that old； cruel time prisoners were not allowed to see their
friends； and sometimes they spent years in the jails without ever seeing
a friendly face。 I judged that the marks on the paper were an
enchantment； and that the guards would not know what they were doing； nor
have any memory of it afterward； and that was indeed the way of it。
Ursula put her head in at the door now and said：
〃Supper's ready； miss。〃 Then she saw us and looked frightened； and
motioned me to come to her； which I did； and she asked if we had told
about the cat。 I said no； and she was relieved； and said please don't；
for if Miss Marget knew； she would think it was an unholy cat and would
send for a priest and have its gifts all purified out of it； and then
there wouldn't be any more dividends。 So I said we wouldn't tell； and
she was satisfied。 Then I was beginning to say good…by to Marget； but
Satan interrupted and said； ever so politelywell； I don't remember just
the words； but anyway he as good as invited himself to supper； and me；
too。 Of course Marget was miserably embarrassed； for she had no reason
to suppose there would be half enough for a sick bird。 Ursula heard him；
and she came straight into the room； not a bit pleased。 At first she was
astonished to see Marget looking so fresh and rosy； and said so； then she
spoke up in her native tongue； which was Bohemian； and saidas I learned
afterward〃Send him away； Miss Marget； there's not victuals enough。〃
Before Marget could speak； Satan had the word； and was talking back to
Ursula in her own languagewhich was a surprise to her； and for her
mistress； too。 He said； 〃Didn't I see you down the road awhile ago？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃Ah； that pleases me； I see you remember me。〃 He stepped to her and
whispered： 〃I told yo