ite, and even supposed nothing was impossible to me.

It was too late to remove the sand; therefore the lieutenant and guard
continued with me, so that this night at least I did not want company.
When the morning came, the hole was first filled up; the planking was
renewed. The tyrant Borck was ill, and could not come, otherwise my
treatment would have been still more lamentable. The smiths had ended
before the evening, and the irons were heavier than ever. The foot
chains, instead of being fastened as before, were screwed and riveted;
all else remained as formerly. They were employed in the flooring till
the next day, so that I could not sleep, and at last I sank down with
weariness.

The greatest of my misfortunes was they again deprived me of my bed,
because I had cut it up for sand-bags. Before the doors were barred
Bruckhausen and another major examined my body very narrowly. They often
had asked me where I concealed all my implements? My answer was,
"Gentlemen, Beelzebub is my best and most intimate friend; he brings me
everything I want, supplies me with light: we play whole nights at
piquet, and, guard me as you please, he will finally deliver me out of
your power."

Some were astonished, others laughed. At length, as they were barring
the last door, I called, "Come back, gentlemen! you have forgotten
something of great importance." In the interim I had taken up one of my
hidden files. When they returned, "Look ye, gentlemen," said I, "here is
a proof of the friendship Beelzebub has for me, he has brought me this in
a twinkling." Again they examined, and again they shut their doors.
While they were so doing, I took out a knife, and ten louis-d'ors,
called, and they re turned, grumbling curses; I then shewed the knife and
the louis-d'ors. Their consternation was excessive; and I diverted my
misfortunes by jesting at such blundering, short-sighted keepers. It was
soon rumoured through Magdeburg, especially among the simple and vulgar,
that I was a magician to whom the devil brought all I asked.

One Major Holtzkammer, a very selfish man, profited by this report. A
foolish citizen had offered him fifty dollars if he might only be
permitted to see me through the door, being very desirous to see a
wizard. Holtzkammer told me, and we jointly determined to sport with his
credulity. The major gave me a mask with a monstrous nose, which I put
on when the doors were opening, and threw myself in an heroi