"Time does not wait for him who waits to dare."
An evil light flashed from Basil's eyes.
"What can you do?"
Response came as from the depths of a grave.
"I shall conjure such shapes from the black caves of fear as have not ventured forth since madness first began to prowl among the human race, when the torturing dusk drowns every helpless thing in livid waves of shadow. It is the spirit of your sire that draws the evil legions to you."
Basil straightened in surprise.
"What know you of him?" he exclaimed. "Dull prayers and fasts and penances, not such freaks as this, were the only things he thought of."
From the cowled form came a hiss.
"Fool! Not that grunting and omnivorous swine who took the cowl, begat you! Your veins run with fiery evil direct from its fountainhead. No, no,—not he!"
"Not he?" shrieked the Grand Chamberlain. "If I am not his progeny, then whose?"