"Would you be happy," said the Count, "to have the seventh ring of the dwargues, and the power to make your garden into a vast domain? To stride with flaming hoe across the darkened land? The clouds shall roll away, and the white sun shine, and at your command the Tour-Eithil shall become a garden of flowers and trees and bring forth fruit. You have only to favour me in one small matter, and all this can be. Do you refuse?"
"Monsieur, you terrify me!"
The Count forced a Ring of Power into the hand of the employee.
"What must I do?" said the employee, feeling a rush of power and killing with a wave of the hand all the dormice, hares, and hatters that infested the garden.
"Nothing difficult; merely a trifle that I fancy. Simply send the signals that voici."
Monte Fato handed the bonhobbite a piece of paper, on which were traced three signs. Red with fever and sweating profusely, the bonhobbite executed the signs or sérati given by the Count. The correspondent to the left transmitted the messages, which duly arrived at the Ministry of the Interior. De Brie hastened to inform the baroness de Sacqueville-Danglars that Giles-Fermier had ceased his business partnership with Chrysophylace le Dragon. The baroness informed her husband, who ordered that all his stock in Chrysophylace be sold forthwith.
