y imagining and
it is truly a pleasure to meet the greatest sorcerer since Ckellyr, and
how", said Colombo, "is dear Mrs. Thyrston?"

Then Thyrston showed Colombo what was written on the insecure parchment.
It frightened Colombo a little, but he assented. And when the sorcerer
had borrowed a silk hat and a gold watch he caused the skies to darken
and Colombo saw that which men refuse to believe.

"But, oh, now really sir", said Colombo, "that is indeed extremely
clever and I do wish that the children were here to see it and would you
mind, my dear Thyrston", said Colombo, "doing that egg trick again?"

Then Thyrston showed Colombo that he had nothing up either sleeve
and after an interval he consented to teach Colombo the secret of his
conjuring.

"Why now to be sure", said Colombo, after he had thoroughly mastered the
trick, "that is indeed quite simple and I am sorry I broke those four
eggs by mistake in your silk hat, and while I do not wish to appear
oversensitive, do you not think, my dear Thyrston", said Colombo, "that
the trick would go just as well without those abominable jokes about
married life?"

"My dear sir", said Thyrston, "those jokes have been used by every
conjurer since Merlin, and while perhaps without them your trick would
work, yet I have never heard of it being done and I have found", said
Thyrston, "that in sorcery the best results are obtained by doing the
customary thing."

"Which only goes to show", said Colombo, "that sorcery is somewhat akin
to business, and now that I think of it", said Colombo, "I believe that
the term wizard of industry is perhaps not entirely a misnomer."

Thus it was that Colombo took leave of Thyrston, and the tale tells
how on Walburga's Eve he came to the court of King Ferdinand and Queen
Isabel. And as he entered one met him who was not unpleasing to the eye,
and she was weeping. And, as it was somewhat dark, Colombo decided to
comfort her.

"Now, do you tell me, my dear", said Colombo, after an interval, "why
it is you weep, for I am Colombo whom men call the Dreamer, and I go in
search of the land of my imagining, and I think", said Colombo, "that
you have most remarkably lovely eyes."

"Oh messire", said the lady, "I weep because it is this evening that
I am to entertain the ladies of our Progress Literary Club, and Donna
Margarita whom men call the Spanish Omelet, but who really, messire, has
a lovely voice, was going to sing 'The Rosary' and now she