The jest of Hahalaba

The Jest of Hahabala is one of Lord Dunsany's most popular one-act plays, carefully crafted with three onstage performers: a gentleman, Strangways; his butler; an alchemist and an offstage voice of the Spirit of Laughter. The gentleman has paid the price, the alchemist full fills his request to complete a scheme that the gentlemen expects will make him the richest man in the world. The Alchemist has used his powers to invoke a spirit to work Strangways' will; the problem is that the spirits are resentful of such summonsing and even the most seemingly benign essence, such as the Spirit of Laughter, will scheme with immortal cunning to destroy mortals with their own greatest desire. The spirit grants Strangways the knowledge to achieve his ends, but fails to supply one crucial detail the impatient businessman never thought to ask.