“Hold her hand in thine,” said Elymas, “and I will invoke the Source of Spirits, and as I withdraw each veil that covers her face, she will see something, and she seeing it, the sense of sight will pass through her hand to thee, and thou wilt see also, inwardly, yet very really. Only let not go her hand, or all will become dark.”
Then he went before the crystal, that stood on an altar like a truncated column; and he uttered words rapidly in a strange tongue, then turned, threw a hand ful of spices upon the coals, and a dense aromatic smoke filled the interior. It dissipated, and Domitia uttered a faint cry.
“What ails thee?” asked Lucius.
Thinking she was frightened, he added—“Let us go forth. This is mere jugglery.”
“But I see,” she said in tremulous tones.
“What dost thou see?”
“O Lucius! It is the garden at Cenchræa—and my father! O, my father!” she sobbed.
One veil had been withdrawn.
“Enough,” said Lucius. “I think naught of this: every one is aware how the noble Cnæus Corbulo came by his death.”
“Then see again,” said the Magus. He took hold of a second veil that covered the prostrate woman, drew it off, and let it fall on the ground.