vision, and vanished.

The Chaldean stood as motionless as a statue, with his head thrown
back, with hands lifted upward. He stood thus half an hour in a
position impossible for an ordinary person.

During this time a part of the wall which formed one side of the cave
pushed back, and three Egyptian priests entered. At sight of the
Chaldean, who seemed to lie in the air, resting his shoulders on an
invisible support, the priests looked at one another with amazement.
The eldest said,

"Long ago there were men like this among us, but no one has such power
in our day."

They walked around him on all sides, touched his stiffened members, and
looked with fear at his face, which was bloodless and sallow, like that
of a corpse.

"Is he dead?" asked the youngest.

After these words the body of the Chaldean, which had been bent
backward, returned to a perpendicular position. On his face appeared a
slight flush, and his upraised hands dropped. He sighed, rubbed his
eyes like a man roused from sleep, looked at the priests, and said
after a while, turning to the eldest,

"Thou art Mefres, high priest of the temple of Ptah in Memphis. Thou
art Herhor, high priest of Amon in Thebes, the first dignity in this
state after the pharaoh. Thou," he indicated the youngest, "art
Pentuer, the second prophet in the temple of Amon, and the adviser of
Herhor."

"Thou art undoubtedly Beroes, the high priest and sage of Babylon,
whose coming was announced to us a year ago," answered Mefres.

"Thou hast told truth," said the Chaldean.

He embraced them in turn, and they inclined before him.

"I bring you great words from our common fatherland, which is Wisdom,"
said Beroes. "Be pleased to listen and act as is needful."

At a sign from Herhor, Pentuer withdrew to the rear of the cave and
brought out three armchairs of light wood for his superiors, and a low
stool for his own use. He seated himself near the lamp, and took from
his bosom a small dagger and wax-covered tablets.

When all three had occupied their chairs, the Chaldean began,

"Mefres, the highest college of priests in Babylon addresses thee: 'The
sacred order of priests in Egypt is falling. Many priests collect money
and women, and pass their lives amid pleasure. Wisdom is neglected. Ye
have no power over the world, which is invisible. Ye have no power over
your own souls. Some of you have lost the highest faith, and the future
is concealed from you. Things worse than t