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barbarians frequently maintain a narrow…minded suspicion。 Many whom I



have approached feign to become amused or have evaded a deliberate



answer under the subterfuge of a jest; yet; whenever I would have



lurked by night in their temples or among the enclosed spaces of their



tombs to learn more; at a given signal one in authority has approached



me with anxiety and mistrust engraved upon his features; and;



disregarding my unassuming protest that I would remain alone in a



contemplative reverie; has signified that so devout an exercise is



contrary to their written law。







On one occasion only did this person seem to hold himself poised on



the very edge of a fuller enlightenment。 This was when; in the



venerable company of several benevolent persons; he was being taken



from place to place to see the more important buildings; and to



observe the societies of artificers labouring at their crafts。 The



greater part of the day had already been spent in visiting temples;



open spaces reserved to children and those whose speech; appearance;



and general manner of behaving make it desirable that they should be



set apart from the contact of the impressionable; halls containing



relics and emblems of the past; places of no particular size or



attraction but described as being of unparalleled historic interest;



and the stalls of the more reputable venders of merchandise。







Doubtless; with observing so many details of a conflicting nature;



this person's discriminating faculties had become obscured; but



towards evening he certainly understood that we sought the company of



an assembly of those who had been selected from all the Empire to



pronounce definitely upon matters of supreme import。 The building



before which our chariot stopped had every appearance of being worthy



of so exceptional a gathering; and with a most affluent joy that I



should at last be able to glean a decisive pronouncement; I evaded



those who had accompanied me; and; mingling self…reliantly with the



throng inside; I quickly surrounded myself with many of the



wisest…looking; and begged that they would open their heads freely and



express their innermost opinions upon the subject of demons of all



kinds。







Although I had admittedly hoped that these persons would not conceal



themselves behind the wings of epigram or intangible prevarication; I



was far from being prepared for the candour with which they greeted



me; and although by long usage I am reasonably unconcerned at the



proximity of any of our own recognised genii; it is not to be denied



that my organs of ferocity grew small and unstable at the revelations。







From their words it appeared that the spot on which we stood had long



been the recognised centre and meeting…place for every class of



abandoned and objectionable spirit of the universe。 Not only this; but



several of the persons who had gathered around were confidently



pointed out as the earthly embodiment of various diabolical Forces;



while others cheerfully admitted that they themselves were the shadows



of certain illustrious ones who had long Passed Above; and all united



in declaring that those who moved among them wearing the distinction



of a dark blue uniform were Evil Beings of a most ghoulish and



repulsive type。 Indeed; as I looked more closely; I could see that not



only those pointed out; but all standing around; had expressions



immeasurably more in keeping with a band of outcast spirits than



suggestive of an assembly representing wisdom and dignified ease。 At



that moment; however; a most inelegant movement was caused by one



suddenly declaring that he had recognised this one who is inscribing



his experiences to be the apparition of a certain great reformer who



during the period of his ordinary existence had received the name of



Guy Fawkes; and amid a tumult of overwhelming acclamation a proposal



was raised that I should be carried around in triumph and afterwards



initiated into the observance of a time…honoured custom。 Although it



had now become doubtful to what end the adventure was really tending;



this person would have submitted himself agreeably to the



participation had not the blue…apparelled band cleft their way into



the throng just as I was about to be borne off in triumph; and forming



themselves into a ringed barrier around me they presently succeeded in



rearranging the contending elements and in restoring me to the society



of my friends。 To these persons they complained with somewhat



unreasoning acrimony that I had been exciting the inmates into a state



of rebellion with wild imaginings; and for the first time I then began



to understand that an important error had been perpetrated by some



one; and that instead of being a meeting…place for those upholding the



wisdom and authority of the country; the building was in reality an



establishment for the mentally defective and those of treacherous



instincts。







For some time after this occurrence I failed to regard the subject of



demons and allied Forces in any but a spirit of complete no



enthusiasm; but more recently my interest and research have been



enlarged by the zeal and supernatural conversation of a liberal…minded



person who sought my prosaic society with indefatigable persistence。



When we had progressed to such a length that the one might speak of



affairs without the other at once interposing that he himself had also



unfortunately come out quite destitute of money; this stranger; who



revealed to me that his name was Glidder; but that in the company of a



certain chosen few he was known intimately as the Keeper of the



Salograma; approached me confidentially; and inquired whether we of



our Central Kingdom were in the habit of receiving manifestations from



the spirits of those who had Passed Beyond。







At the unassumed ingenuousness of this remark I suffered my



impassiveness to relax; as I replied with well…established pride that



although a country which neglected its ancestors might doubtless be



able to produce more of the ordinary or graveyard spectres; we were



unapproachable for the diverse forms and malignant enmity of our



apparitions。 Of invisible beings alone; I continued tolerantly; we had



the distinction of being harassed by upwards of seven hundred



clearly…defined varieties; while the commoner inflictions of demons;



shades; visions; warlocks; phantoms; sprites; imps; phenomena; ghosts;



and reflections passed almost without comment; and touching our



admitted national speciality of dragons; the honour of supremacy had



never been questioned。







At this; the agreeable person said that the pleasure he derived



from meeting me was all…excelling; and that I must certainly accompany



him to a meeting…place of this same chosen few the following evening;



when; by the means of sacred expedients; they hoped to invoke the



presence of some departed spirits; and perchance successfully raise a



tangible vision or two。 To so fair…minded a proposal I held myself



acquiescently; and then inquired where the meeting…place in question



was destined to bewhether in a ruined and abandoned sanctuary; or



upon some precipitous spot of desolation。







The inquiry was gracefully intended; but a passing cloud of unworthy



annoyance revealed itself upon the upper part of the other's



expression as he replied; 〃We; the true seekers; despise theatrical



accessories; and; as a matter of act; I couldn't well get away from



the office in time to go anywhere far。 To…morrow we meet at my place



in the Camden Road。 It's only a three…half…penny tram stage from the



Euston and Tottenham Court corner; so it couldn't be much more



convenient for you。〃 He thereupon gave me an inscribed fragment of



paper and mentioned the appointed hour。







〃I'll tell you why I am particularly anxious for you to come



to…morrow;〃 he said as we were each departing from one another。



〃Pashhe's the Reader of the Veda among usand his people have got



hold of a Greek woman (they SAY she is a princess; of course); who can



do a lot of things with flowers and plate glass。 They are bringing her



for the first time to…morrow; and it struck me that if I have YOU



there already when they arriveyou'll come in your national costume



by the way?it will be a considerable set…off。 Since his daughter was



presented to the duchess at the opening of a bazaar; there has been no



holding Pash; why he was ever elected Reader of the Books; I don't



know。 Erwe have had scoffers sometimes; but I trust

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