ockingly. But he was not to be denied. He re-read the
score, set it going on the organ, then picked up the tam-tam. "These old
Chinese ghosts caused the trouble once and they can cause it again," he
muttered; and striking the instrument softly, the music for the fourth
time went on its way quivering, its rear entering the world first....

* * * * *

The terrified carpenter, in relating the affair later swore that the
darkness was black as the wings of Satan. A lightning flash had ended
the music; then he heard feet pausing in the gloom, and from his
position in the doorway he saw the stage crowded with men, the musicians
of the Balakian orchestra, all scraping, blaring and pounding away at
the symphony, Pobloff, stick in hand, beating time, his eyes closed in
bliss, his back arched like a cat's.

When they had finished playing, Pobloff wiped his forehead and said,
"Thank you, gentlemen. That will do for to-day." They immediately began
to gabble, hastily putting away their instruments; while from without
entered a crazy stream of women weeping, laughing, and scolding. In five
minutes the hall was emptied of them all. Pobloff turned to Luga. She
eyed him demurely, as she covered with historic green baize her brave
harp.

"Well," she said, joining him, "well! Give an account of yourself, sir!"
Pobloff watched her, completely stupefied. Only his discipline, his
routine had carried him through this tremendous resurrection: he had
beaten time from a sense of duty--why he found himself at the head of
his band he understood not. He only knew that the experiment of playing
the enchanted symphony backward was a success: that it had become
disenchanted; that Luga, his violet, his harpist, his wife was restored
to him to bring him the wonderful tidings. He put his arms around her.
She drew back in her primmest attitude.

"No, not yet, Pobloff. Not until you tell me where you have been all
day." He sat down and wept, wept as if his heart would strain and crack;
and then the situation poking him in the risible rib he laughed until
Luga herself relaxed.

"It may be very funny to you, husband, and no doubt you've had a jolly
time, but you've not told where or with whom." Pobloff seized her by the
wrists.

"Where were _you_? What have you been doing, woman? What was it like,
that strange country which you visited, and from which you are so
marvellously returned to me like a stone upcast by a crater