whose smoke already began to befoul the air, the Emperor 

 came suddenly upon a startling scene. The cavern widened 

 out and the roof rose aloft ; on its walls hung black banners 

 of coarse material on which were painted in divers colors 

 kabbalistic figures, symbols of the planets, signs of the zodiac, 

 and geometrical designs of goetic power; and in gilt letters 

 were the names of the infernal demons who presided over the 

 seven days of the week, the twelve hours of the day and the 

 twelve hours of the night. Pendant from the roof in front 

 of each banner, a sconce of three tapers threw a lurid light ; 

 fastened to the walls between the banners were dried snakes 

 with glittering scales, weird looking stuffed bats with out- 

 spread wings, Persian owls, an Ethiopian salamander and 

 an African chimpanzee, as well as skeletons of small rare 

 animals painted white to enhance the ghastly effect. 



In one of the foci of the elliptical cave stood upright an 

 Egyptian mummy-case through whose eyesockets shone a 

 red light, and on the top of which rested a grinning skull 

 with cross-bones. In the other focus of the ellipse stood an 

 antique bronze tripod, resembling that of the Pythian priestess 

 at Delphi, supporting a brasier in which were a few live 

 coals. In the space between the mummy-case and the tripod 

 were three small triangular-topped tables covered with red 

 cloth, on which lay tongs and bellows, several strangely 

 shaped knives, a two-edged sword of Oriental manufacture, 

 a silver basin, and a number of stringed musical instruments, 

 some capsules filled with pyrotechnic powders, besides some 

 nondescript little articles whose uncouth appearance did not 

 reveal their design ; they were wonder-working talismans and 

 amulets. Beneath one of the smaller tables was a covered 

 basket. 



On an elevated dais placed against the roughly hewn 

 wall facing the middle table was an armchair covered with 



177 



