very large friezes,
supported too by pillars of solid gold. But each of the panels of the
flat part of the wall stood on a transparent gay green smooth-polished
stone, which Jussuf could only consider to be most valuable
emeralds--however improbable it seemed. Hassan allowed him no time to
look about him: he had already opened a third room with the strokes of
his silver hammer. The form of this was octagonal: the pillars and
sockets were of silver; but the panels rested on a precious stone of a
bright blue colour.

In the same manner they reached a more splendid and larger room. They
had already passed through twelve without having found any living
creature. Thus, with all this splendour, there was an unpleasant air
of desertion, which oppressed Jussuf so much that he would willingly
have imparted his feeling to his companion; but he strode on with such
seriousness and caution, in his passage through the opened doors and
rooms, that he had not courage to say a word aloud. After they had
passed through the twelfth chamber, Hassan knocked three times with
his hammer on the ground, which consisted of clear large and small
quadrangles of the most magnificent polished stripes of jasper.
Immediately one of these quadrangles opened and fell back, as if it
were a trap-door: here were disclosed many steps of beautiful crystal,
which led down still deeper. They descended, and the trap-door shut
down behind them. Jussuf saw no lamp by which the long descent of
steps was lighted, nor any window through which the light of day could
enter; but still it was not dark around them, for at each footstep
shone a clear blue light. He observed that this proceeded from a small
ball which rolled down before him from step to step, and, every time
that it alighted on a step, a clear blue ray of light streamed out,
which spread out its rays till the ball had rolled to another. At last
the steps ceased, and before him extended a long passage, the opposite
end of which was lighted by a clear point: they approached it, and
soon discovered a folding-door with glass windows, through which shone
the bright daylight. They passed through it, and found themselves in a
splendid garden, full of rare flowers and shrubs, such as Jussuf had
never before seen. At the entrance, two slaves approached him, who
bowed to him respectfully, but silently, and beckoned to him to follow
them. They led him into a large summer-house: there sat some men whom
Jussuf took fo