he roof.
There were no colours--every detail of the landscape was black, white,
or grey. The scene appeared so still, so solemn and religious, that all
his feelings quieted down to absolute tranquillity.

Leehallfae fell back suddenly. Maskull dropped on his knees, and
helplessly watched the last flickerings of aer spirit, going out like a
candle in foul air. Death came.... He closed the eyes. The awful grin of
Crystalman immediately fastened upon the phaen's dead features.

While Maskull was still kneeling, he became conscious of someone
standing beside him. He looked up quickly and saw a man, but did not at
once rise.

"Another phaen dead," said the newcomer in a grave, toneless, and
intellectual voice.

Maskull got up.

The man was short and thickset but emaciated. His forehead was not
disfigured by any organs. He was middle-aged. The features were
energetic and rather coarse--yet it seemed to Maskull as though a pure,
hard life had done something toward refining them. His sanguine
eyes carried a twisted, puzzled look; some unanswerable problem was
apparently in the forefront of his brain. His face was hairless; the
hair of his head was short and manly; his brow was wide. He was clothed
in a black, sleeveless robe, and bore a long staff in his hand. There
was an air of cleanness and austerity about the whole man that was
attractive.

He went on speaking dispassionately to Maskull, and, while doing so,
kept passing his hand reflectively over his cheeks and chin. "They all
find their way here to die. They come from Matterplay. There they live
to an incredible age. Partly on that account, and partly because
of their spontaneous origin, they regard themselves as the favoured
children of Faceny. But when they come here to find him, they die at
once."

"I think this one is the last of the race. But whom do I speak to?"

"I am Corpang. Who are you, where do you come from, and what are you
doing here?"

"My name is Maskull. My home is on the other side of the universe. As
for what I am doing here--I accompanied Leehallfae, that phaen, from
Matterplay."

"But a man doesn't accompany a phaen out of friendship. What do you want
in Threal?"

"Then this is Threal?"

"Yes."

Maskull remained silent.

Corpang studied his face with rough, curious eyes. "Are you ignorant, or
merely reticent, Maskull?"

"I came here to ask questions, and not to answer them."

The stillness of the place was almost oppressive. No