（外文电子版资料）Kuttner, Henry - By These Presents.doc

BY THESE PRESENTS PAGE PAGE 6 BY THESE PRESENTS by Henry Kuttner The devil smiled uneasily at James Fenwick. “It’s very irregular,” he said. “I’m not at all sure –” “Do you want my soul or don’t you?” James Fenwick demanded. “Naturally I do,” the devil said. “But I’ll have to think this over. Under the circumstances I don’t exactly see how I could collect.” “All I want is immortality,” Fenwick said, with a pleased smile. “I wonder why no one has ever thought of this before. In my opinion it’s foolproof. Come, come, now, make up your mind. Do you want to back out?” “Oh no,” the devil said hastily. “It’s just that – Look here, Fenwick. I’m not sure you realise – immortality’s a long time, you know.” “Exactly. The question is, will it ever have an end? If it does, you collect my soul. If not –” Fenwick made an airy gesture. “I win,” he said. “Oh, it has an end,” the devil said, somewhat grimly. “It’s just that right now I’d rather not undertake such a long-term investment. You wouldn’t care for immortality, Fenwick. Believe me.” Fenwick said, “Ha.” “I don’t see why you’re so set on immortality,” the devil said a little peevishly, tapping the point of his tail on the carpet. “I’m not,” Fenwick told him. “Actually, it’s just a by-product. There happen to be quite a number of things I’d like to do without suffering the consequences, but –” “I could promise you that,” the devil put in eagerly. “But,” Fenwick said, lifting his hand for quiet, “the deal would obviously end right there. Played this way, I get not only an unlimited supply of immunities of all kinds, but I get immortality besides. Take it or leave it, my friend.” The devil rose from his chair and began to pace up and down the room, scowling at the carpet. Finally he looked up. “Very well,” he said briskly. “I accept.” “You do?” Fenwick was aware of a slight sinking feeling. Now that it actually came to the point, maybe … He looked uneasily toward the drawn blinds of his apartment.