“It’s me!”

The afternoon passed like a moment in paradise. Before Frank knew it, the jinn was back, ready to serve up supper. Frank must sup with his charmer, for this time it was love, the real thing. The jinn, entering with the viands, rolled up his wicked eyes at the sight of so much beauty.

It happened that Frank, all love and restlessness, darted out into the garden between two mouthfuls, to pluck his beloved a rose. The jinn, on the pretense of serving her wine, edged up very closely. “I don’t know if you remember me,” said he in a whisper. “I used to be in the next bottle to you. I have often admired you through the glass.”

“Oh, yes,” said she. “I remember you quite well.”

At that moment Frank returned. The jinn could say no more, but he stood about the room, inflating his monstrous chest and showing off his plump and dusky muscles. “You need not be afraid of him,” said Frank. “He is only a jinn. Pay no attention to him. Tell me if you really love me.”

“Of course I do,” said she.

“Well, say so,” said he. “Why don’t you say so?”

“I have said so,” said she. “Of course I do. Isn’t that saying so?”

This vague, evasive reply dimmed all Frank’s happiness, as if a cloud had come over the sun. Doubt sprang up in his mind and entirely ruined moments of exquisite bliss.

“What are you thinking of?” he would say.

“I don’t know,” she would reply.

“Well, you ought to know,” he would say, and then a quarrel would begin.

Once or twice he even ordered her back into her bottle. She obeyed with a malicious and secretive smile.

“Why should she give that sort of smile?” said Frank to the jinn, to whom he confided his distress.

“I cannot tell,” replied the jinn. “Unless she has a lover concealed in there.”

“Is it possible?” cried Frank in consternation.

“It is surprising,” said the jinn, “how much room there is in one of these bottles.”

“Come out!” cried Frank. “Come out at once!”

His charmer obediently emerged. “Is there anyone else in that bottle?” cried Frank.

“How could there be?” she asked, with a look of rather overdone innocence.

“Give me a straight answer,” said he. “Answer me yes or no.”

“Yes or no,” she replied maddeningly.

“You double-talking, two-timing little bitch!” cried Frank. “I’ll go in and find out for myself. If I find anybody, God help him and you!

With that, and with an intense effort of the will, he flowed himself into the bottle. He looked all around: There was no one. Suddenly, he heard a sound above him. He looked up, and there was the stopper being thrust in.

“What are you doing?” cried he.

“We are putting in the stopper,” said the jinn.

Frank cursed, begged, prayed, and implored. “Let me out!” he cried. “Let me out.