``It was a Stradivarius,'' said Diotti,
sadly.

``Had it been a Stradivarius, an Amati
or a Guarnerius, or a host of others rolled
into one, you would not have found in
it the melody to win the heart of the
woman you love. Get a better and
more suitable instrument.''

``Where is one?'' earnestly interrogated
Diotti, vaguely realizing that
Satan knew.

``In my possession,'' Satan replied.

``She would hate me if she knew I
had recourse to the powers of darkness
to gain her love,'' bitterly interposed
Diotti.

Satan, wincing at this uncomplimentary
allusion to himself, replied rather
warmly: ``My dear sir, were it not for
the fact that I feel in particularly good
spirits this morning, I should resent your
ill-timed remarks and leave you to end
your miserable existence with rope or
pistol,'' and Satan pantomimed both