The Man Who Was Magic Read Online Free PDF

the other side of those mountains.”
    “Why, you big bag of wind!” Mopsy yelped.
    “Mopsy!” Adam warned.
    “But he called you a liar!”
    “Never mind, Mopsy, he doesn’t know any better.”
    “What? What?” shouted Fussmer. “What are you two going on about down there?”
    “It was just my little dog, sir. He was expressing admiration for the manner in which you conduct your high office.”
    Fussmer looked over the edge of the desk, but all he could see was a small mass of hair upon the floor. He wasn’t quite certain, even, which end was which since at that moment Mopsy was most definitely not waving his flag. “Well, that may be,” he piped, not at all mollified. “Now then, stage name?”
    “I beg your pardon?”
    “Your professional name, like ‘Whosis-the-Something,’ that’s to say the ‘Amazing,’ the ‘Petrifying,’ the ‘Flabbergasting.’ For instance, I am known as ‘Fussmer the Fabulous.’ I’m sure you’ve heard of me.”
    “Well, I for one haven’t,” put in Mopsy.
    Adam gave him a small, admonitory shove with the side of his foot and then replied, “Indeed we have, sir. But I’m afraid I am only Adam. Adam, plain and simple.”
    The Town Clerk showed all his flashing teeth in an unpleasant smile as he said, “Shall we write down, then, ‘Adam the Simple?’ ”
    “Would you?” said Adam. “That would be very kind.”
    Fussmer gave him a hard look to see whether he was making fun of him, and when it was obvious that he wasn’t, wrote down not quite so triumphantly, “Adam the Simple.” Then, “Age?” he inquired.
    “I don’t know, your honor.”
    “What? When were you born?”
    “Stupid!” giggled Mopsy. “If he knew when he was born, he’d be able to tell you his age, wouldn’t he?”
    “Mopsy! Stop it!”
    “See here,” Fussmer squeaked angrily, “I won’t have this dog interrupting us all the time. Now then, what about your clothes? What kind of a costume would you call that? I never saw an honest magician in that sort of outfit before. Do you mean to say you intend going before the august Judges in that rig?”
    “I’m sorry,” Adam replied, “but I’ve just arrived. I have clean ones in my knapsack, but I haven’t had time to change yet.”
    “You’ll never pass,” shrilled Fussmer gloatingly. “They’ll give you a black mark just for the way you look.”
    “He’s a fine one to talk,” commented Mopsy. “He’s like a sausage about to burst out of its skin. And, speaking of sausages, I wish I had one. I’m hungry.”
    “Not now, Mopsy.”
    “Is it that dog again?” asked Fussmer.
    “Sorry, your honor. I’ve told him he must keep quiet.”
    “Let’s get on, then. The name of your assistant?”
    “Jane, here,” said Adam, pointing to his new-found friend who arose from her chair and, to her credit, dropped a most passable curtsy to the Town Clerk, who looked up in astonishment, having hardly noticed her before.
    “Jane?” he asked. “The Chief Magician’s daughter? Well, that’s a fine thing. Does your father know about this?”
    “No,” replied Adam. “But I’m sure he will have no objection after I’ve had a word with him.”
    “Hah!” sneered Fussmer. “That’s a good one! Now I know you won’t pass. The child’s impossible. The Great Robert himself says so. She’s all thumbs. Besides which, she’s underage. Fourteen is the legal limit for assistants in Mageia. Well, what have you got to say to that?”
    “Please, Adam,” Mopsy begged, “mayn’t I nip him just once? I can get at his ankle easily under the desk.”
    “No, you may not!” Adam reproved. “And for heaven’s sake behave yourself, Mopsy.” To Fussmer he said, “Only that as a stranger it is my intention to claim hospitality and I am sure that Jane will be able to assist me properly in the rather inadequate things that I do.”
    “Please, Mr. Fussmer,” Jane begged, “I’ll try awfully hard and he hasn’t anyone