There are ways to persuade him to abandon it." "No-no, Father, it skills not, as these people say.

If he were persuaded against his will, he would load that well with a malicious enchantment which would balk me until I found out its secret.
It might take a month.

I could set up a little enchantment of mine which I call the telephone, and he could not find out its secret in a hundred years.

Yes, you perceive, he might block me for a month.

Would you like to risk a month in a dry time like this ?" "A month! The mere thought of it maketh me to shudder.