“So rich, that you will come in time to despise riches, since, by the mere force of your will, you will obtain not only what men can only acquire with gold and silver, but also all that superior beings get by their conjurations.”
“Shall I be able to revenge myself on my enemies?”
“You will have unlimited power over everything which is connected with evil.”
“If I love a woman, will there again be a possibility of my losing her?”
“As you will have dominion over all your fellow creatures, you will be able to do with them what you like.”
“There will be no power to enable them to escape from the trammels of my will?”
“Nothing, except death, which is stronger than all.”
“And I shall only run the risk of death myself on one day out of the three hundred and sixty-five?”
“On one day only; during the remaining days nothing can harm you, neither iron, lead, nor steel, neither water, nor fire.”
“And there is no deceit, no trap to catch me, in your words?”
“None, on my honour as a wolf!”
“Good,” said Thibault, “then let it be so; a wolf for four and twenty hours, for the rest of the time the monarch of creation! What am I to do? I am ready.”
“Pick a holly-leaf, tear it in three pieces with your teeth, and throw it away from you, as far as you can.”