“I should have some scruples about being present at a professedly magical exhibition if it were not practically involuntary. But, since we have no choice in the matter, we may at least get the advantage of noticing the contrast between the miracles of Jesus as they have been reported to us and the marvels of the most famous magician of our time—for such I understand he is considered.”
“Try to imagine some advantage to his cousin Malus in this movement,” suggested Cimon.
“Is it not supposable that Malus is very superstitious (as I believe such men are apt to be) and has great confidence in the magic art, and hopes to weave about us some hindering if not destructive spell, enlisting against us demoniacal forces? Perhaps, too, he proposes to frighten us from our purpose by astrological and other predictions of impending evil: also will seek to enlarge his knowledge of us by asking for the facts needed for constructing a horoscope.”
“That will do very well for a guess,” said Cimon. “And since we are guessing I will make a small contribution. Perhaps the darkness which is sure to accompany the exhibition at some stage will be used for an attack on us bodily. This can be imputed to spirits. If I should see among the spectators any persons with villainous and cut-throat faces, I should feel called on to be on the watch.”
During this conversation their simple meal had been brought and dispatched (not without an audible thanksgiving); and Cimon now proposed that they should at once return to the khan and acquaint themselves with their new surroundings somewhat in advance of the evening’s performance.
The sun was about setting, and many people were already collected about the gate, reading the large poster that hung upon it and comparing views and expectations, when our friends came up. They were at once admitted as being guests of the establishment.
They found a platform erected in the middle of the court, and closely drawn about by curtains on which were various cabalistic characters. From within issued a smoke, an odor as of strange drugs, a hissing sound as of boiling, faint flashes of light, and various sounds as of people moving about and arranging. Around the stage, at a small distance, hurdles had been set up—also about the piazza. The only break in these two lines of hurdles was opposite the room which Cimon and Aleph occupied. Here were two gates giving access from the stage to the piazza by means of a flight of steps from the former.
“What does this mean?” thought our two friends. “Did it happen so?”
In passing to their room along the piazza they found benches, each of which could seat four persons, standing before each room, but set forward so as to allow free passage behind them. Before their own door, however, stood only a single short bench seating only two persons. Right before this seat, under the eaves of the piazza, hung a single lighted lamp—the only lamp visible anywhere.