e
barge-master, who had preserved absolute silence towards us since our
march through the city began, held aside the curtain and silently
motioned to us to enter.

From the bright sunshine we passed at a step into a chamber so shadowy
that we involuntarily stopped on the threshold, in order that our eyes
might become accustomed to the semi-darkness before we advanced. The
only light that entered it came through two narrow slits in the thick
wall above the portal that we had just passed; and the glimmer diffused
by the thin rays thus admitted was in great part absorbed by the black
draperies with which everywhere the room was hung. As our eyes adjusted
themselves to these gloomy conditions we perceived that we were in a
hall of great size; and presently we were able to distinguish objects
clearly enough to see that at the far end of it was a raised dais,
having a sort of throne upon it; but not until, being urged forward by
the officer, we had traversed more than half the length of the hall did
we discern upon the throne the shadowy figure of a man.

Being come close to the dais, the officer halted us by a gesture; but no
word was spoken, and for several minutes we stood in the semi-darkness
of that strange place in absolute silence. For myself, I must confess
that I was somewhat awed by my surroundings, and by the impassive
silence and stillness that the dimly seen figure upon the throne
maintained, and I am sure that Fray Antonio's imaginative nature was
similarly impressed; as for Pablo, I distinctly heard his teeth
chattering in the dark. But neither Rayburn nor Young, as the latter
would have expressed it, awed easily, and it was Rayburn who presently
spoke.

"This fellow in the big chair would be a good hand at private
theatricals. He's got a first-rate notion of stage effect. Hadn't I
better stick a pin in him and wake him up?"

"There's no good in stickin' pins into _him_," said Young, in a tone of
great contempt. "What's the matter with him is, he's not real at
all--he's stuffed!"

There was something so absurdly incongruous in these comments that they
acted instantly upon my overstrained nerves, and I burst into a laugh,
in which the other two immediately joined. Evidently, this was not at
all the effect that this carefully arranged reception was intended to
have upon us; for the seated figure started suddenly and uttered an
angry exclamation, and at the same time gave a quick order to the
officer.

"I