o, only a few hours before,
had humiliated himself in her presence. For a moment her mind refused
the connection of ideas; but the next a full realization of the position
swept over her, galvanizing her mentally and physically, as she turned
in her seat and glanced at the seven who were following in the wake.

[Illustration: "SHE SAW THE FIGURE OF THE PROPHET ... ATTENDED BY THE
PRECURSOR AND THE SIX ARCH-MYSTICS"]

First behind his master came the Precursor. And to Enid's searching
gaze it seemed that his face was set into unfamiliar and anxious lines;
but under his black cap and red hair, his skin looked colorless and
drawn. But after the first glance, her eyes were not for him; with swift
apprehension they passed to the six Arch-Mystics who, walking two and
two, formed the procession.

Animated by the speed of actual fear, her gaze passed from the
abnormally agitated face of old Arian, the blind Arch-Councillor, to the
dark, turbulent face of Bale-Corphew, who brought up the rear. The
survey was rapid and comprehensive; and to her uneasy mind the thought
came with unerring certainty that, on all the six faces--differing so
markedly in physical characteristics--there was a common look of
suppressed excitement, of suppressed resolve.

As they passed her seat, Norov turned and shot a glance of cold
curiosity in her direction; but otherwise the whole group seemed
unaware of her presence. Still inert, she sat, watching every movement
in the scene before her as one might watch a drama that would, at a
given moment, cease to be entertainment and become real life.

Very quietly the Prophet advanced to the Scitsym and, following the
customary routine, opened it and began to read.

The words were a strange jargon of mystical counsel interspersed with
the relation of mystical visions and ecstasies. On ordinary lips, the
long, disjointed sentences and disconnected phrases would have sounded
vague and incomprehensible; but, from the first, it had been one of the
Prophet's special gifts that his deep, grave voice could lend weight and
meaning to the fantastic utterances. And to-night it seemed that he
intended to put forth all his powers; for scarcely had he opened the
book and begun to read, than a stir of interest passed over the
congregation; and even Enid, enmeshed in her own terrors, bent forward
involuntarily.

He spoke very slowly, enunciating every word with studied seriousness;
and from time to time he paused and