place, characters like those on the sabres of the Giaour, that possessed
the same virtue of changing every moment; these, after vacillating for
some time, at last fixed in Arabic letters, and prescribed to the Caliph
the following words:

"Vathek! thou hast violated the conditions of my parchment, and deservest
to be sent back; but, in favour to thy companion, and as the meed for
what thou hast done to obtain it, EBLIS permitteth that the portal of his
palace shall be opened, and the subterranean fire will receive thee into
the number of its adorers."

He scarcely had read these words before the mountain against which the
terrace was reared trembled, and the watch-towers were ready to topple
headlong upon them; the rock yawned, and disclosed within it a staircase
of polished marble that seemed to approach the abyss; upon each stair
were planted two large torches, like those Nouronihar had seen in her
vision, the camphorated vapour ascending from which gathered into a cloud
under the hollow of the vault.

This appearance, instead of terrifying, gave new courage to the daughter
of Fakreddin. Scarcely deigning to bid adieu to the moon and the
firmament, she abandoned without hesitation the pure atmosphere to plunge
into these infernal exhalations. The gait of those impious personages
was haughty and determined; as they descended by the effulgence of the
torches they gazed on each other with mutual admiration, and both
appeared so resplendent, that they already esteemed themselves spiritual
Intelligences; the only circumstance that perplexed them was their not
arriving at the bottom of the stairs; on hastening their descent with an
ardent impetuosity, they felt their steps accelerated to such a degree,
that they seemed not walking, but falling from a precipice. Their
progress, however, was at length impeded by a vast portal of ebony, which
the Caliph without difficulty recognised; here the Giaour awaited them
with the key in his hand.

"Ye are welcome," said he to them, with a ghastly smile, "in spite of
Mahomet and all his dependants. I will now admit you into that palace
where you have so highly merited a place."

Whilst he was uttering these words he touched the enamelled lock with his
key, and the doors at once expanded, with a noise still louder than the
thunder of mountains, and as suddenly recoiled the moment they had
entered.

The Caliph and Nouronihar beheld each other with amazement, at finding
themsel