that the string of death is made up of
the extra lengths of the other four
strings. To cut it off would destroy the
others, and then pity, hope, love and joy
would cease to exist in the soul of the
violin.''

``How like life itself,'' Diotti
reflected, ``pity, hope, love, joy end in
death, and through death they are born
again.''

``That's the idea, precisely,'' said
Satan, evidently relieved by Diotti's
logic and quick perception.

The violinist examined the instrument
with the practised eye of an expert, and
turning to Satan said: ``The four
strings are beautifully white and transparent,
but this one is black and odd
looking.

``What is it wrapped with?'' eagerly
inquired Diotti, examining the death
string with microscopic care.

``The fifth string was added after an
unfortunate episode in the Garden of
Eden, in which I was somewhat