he Talisman of Solomon

 

THERE was once upon
a time a man whom other
men called Aben Hassen
the Wise. He had read
a thousand books of magic,
and knew all that the
ancients or moderns had
to tell of the hidden arts.

The King of the De-
mons of the Earth, a
great and hideous monster
named Zadok, was his
servant, and came and
went as Aben Hassen the
Wise ordered, and did as
he bade. After Aben
Hassen learned all that it
was possible for man to
know, he said to himself,
“Now I will take my ease
and enjoy my life.” So he called the Demon Zadok to
him, and said to the monster, ‘I have read in my books
that there is a treasure that was one time hidden by the

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