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THE STORY
Part I
Von Scholtz was a "big" man, both
mentally and physically, muscular, but not fleshy, straight as an arrow; a
great scholar, a keen observer.
In youth he was known as "Dare-Devil
Scholtz" and his badly scarred features, injured by saber thrusts, bore witness
that he was no stranger to punishment.
Von Scholtz decided to "beard the lion in
his den" and he immediately set sail for India, the home of the Magicians.
Could he have foreseen the difficulty and weird experiences he was destined to
encounter, it is probable he would have said, "Let Bill do it."
Professor von Seholtz was considered one
of the ablest scientists of Europe, and was well qualified in every way to
undertake the hazardous work before him. Arriving at Bombay, and seated on the
veranda of the leading hotel of the city, the Professor heard someone call his
name. On looking around, he saw George Blake, a young English officer, who had
been a few years previously a student at Heidelherg, approaching with
outstretched hand, saying: "To what good luck do we owe this pleasure ?"
The Professor, rising, greeted the young
officer, and soon made his mission known. "To be brief," said von Scholtz,
"I've come to study, to unravel, to explode or to explain, scientifically, if
possible, the extraordinary performance of India's magicians; but first, I wish
to make the acquaintance and win the confidence of an adept in this line. I
cannot afford to waste time with a tyro. I want a real problem to solve, if
they are capable of giving me one. You understand what I mean? What is the
prospect? What do you know about their magic ?"
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