thickly abroad, when Pietro, whom people commonly called by the name
of his birthplace, Apone or Abano, retiring into his secret study at
the back of his house, set all his apparatus, all the instruments of
his art, in due order, for some mysterious and extraordinary
undertaking. He himself was clad in a long robe charactered with
strange hieroglyphs; he had described the magical circles in the hall,
and he arranged everything with his utmost skill, to be certain of the
result. He had searcht diligently into the configuration of the stars,
and was now awaiting the auspicious moment.

His companion, the hideous Beresynth, was also drest in magical
garments. He fetcht everything at his master's bidding, and set it
down just as Pietro thought needful. Painted hangings were unrolled
over the walls; the floor of the room was covered over; the great
magical mirror was placed upright; and nearer and nearer came the
moment which the magician deemed the most fortunate.

"Hast thou put the crystals within the circles?" demanded Pietro.

"Yes;" returned his busy mate, whose ugliness kept bustling to and fro
merrily and unweariably amid the vials, mirrors, human skeletons, and
all the other strange implements. The incense was now brought; a flame
blazed upon the altar; and the magician cautiously, almost with
trembling, took the great volume out of his most secret cabinet.

"Do we start now?" cried Beresynth.

"Silence!" answered the old man solemnly: "interrupt not these holy
proceedings by any profane or any useless words."

He read, at first in a low voice, then louder and more earnestly as he
paced with measured steps to and fro, and then again round in a
circle. After a while he paused and said: "Look out, how the heavens
are shaping themselves."

"Thick darkness," replied the servant on his return, "has enwrapt the
sky; the clouds are driving along; rain is beginning to drip."

"They favour me!" exclaimed the old man: "it must succeed."

He now knelt down, and murmuring his incantations often toucht the
ground with his forehead. His face was heated; his eyes sparkled. He
was heard to pronounce the holy names which it is forbidden to utter;
and after a long time he sent his servant out again to look at the
firmament. Meanwhile the onrush of the storm was heard; lightning and
thunder chased each other; and the house seemed to tremble to its
lowest foundations.

"Hearken to the tempest!" shouted Beresynth coming back