"They speak," he said; "they reprove the princely Counts for playing with eternal mysteries in a spirit of lightness. Kendrick says, 'Is life so long that you can be so careless of time? Be careful in your comings and in your goings, lest you waste precious moments, and death come upon you unawares, and snatch you away in your prime.' Volvangel says, 'Why would you know the future? It is better not to draw the curtain.' And now they fall to pieces as if they were of ashes, and there is no more of them."
The globe was now radiating such intense light that though it was motionless it appeared to spin in its place. Duke Christopher rose and put out the lamp, but the chamber remained lit with a delicate, soft, and flickering glow.
The skryer now appeared of an ashy paleness, drops of sweat stood on his brow, his lips trembled. He spoke again in a hoarse and unnatural voice—
"Liliana has arisen; it is a female angel, very witty and wise—she is coming into the room."
A broad beam of golden light projected from the globe and fell, like the vast blade of a sword, against the dimmer light of the chamber.
"It is Liliana," repeated the skryer. "She runs about the room."
There was a moment's utter silence, then Adolphus unexpectedly cried out—
"I see her! She wears a gown of flowered tabinet and yellow hair rolled up in front and hanging long behind!"
"That is she," said Duprès. "She is standing now by the knee of His Highness, and she bids him remember that the angels of God are more to be believed than any priest or Pope."
"She fades!" cried Adolphus. "She changes into a wheel of fire—she breaks—she goes!"