He therefore told
him, that, in consideration of his genius, he would for once satisfy
him without a fee; and desired him to specify the doubts in which
he wished to be resolved.
The son of Parnassus, glad of this condescension, for which he
thanked the necromancer, gave him to understand, that he had some
time before presented a play in manuscript to a certain great
man, at the head of taste, who had not only read and approved the
performance, but also undertaken to introduce and support it on
the stage; that he, the author, was assured by this patron, that
the play was already, in consequence of his recommendation, accepted
by one of the managers, who had faithfully promised to bring it to
light; but that, when he waited on this said manager, to know when
he intended to put his production in rehearsal, the man declared
he had never seen or heard of the piece. "Now, Mr. Conjurer," said
he, "I want to know whether or not my play has been presented, and
if I have any sort of chance of seeing it acted this winter."
Cadwallader, who had, in his younger days, sported among the
theatrical muses, began to lose his temper at this question, which
recalled the remembrance of his own disappointments; and despatched
the author with an abrupt answer, importing that the affairs of the
stage were altogether without the sphere of his divination, being
entirely regulated by the daemons of dissimulation, ignorance, and
caprice.
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