behind them. The youth quaked at finding himself alone
in utter darkness with he knew not what, but the wizard whistled, and a
severed hand appeared in air bearing a lamp which illuminated a long
winding staircase. The old man motioned to the youth to precede him, nor
dared he refuse, though feeling as though he would have given the world for
the very smallest relic of the very smallest saint. The distorted shadows
of the twain, dancing on stair and wall with the wavering lamp-shine,
seemed phantoms capering in an infernal revel, and he glanced back ever and
anon weening to see himself dogged by some frightful monster, but he saw
only the silver hair and sable velvet of the dignified old man.

After the ascent of many steps a door opened before them, and they found
themselves in a spacious chamber, brightly, yet from its size imperfectly
illumined by a single large lamp. It was wainscoted with ebony, and the
furniture was of the same. A long table was covered with scrolls, skulls,
crucibles, crystals, star-charts, geomantic figures, and other
appurtenances of a magician's calling. Tomes of necromantic lore lined the
walls, which were yet principally occupied with crystal vessels, in which
foul beings seemed dimly and confusedly to agitate themselves.

The magician signed to his visitor to be seated, sat down himself and
began:

"Brave youth, ere entering upon the boundless power and riches that await
thee, learn who I am and why I have brought thee here. Behold in me no
vulgar wizard, no mere astrologer or alchemist, but a compeer of Merlin and
Michael Scott, with whose name it may be the nurse of thy infancy hath
oft-times quelled thy froward humours. I am Peter of Abano, falsely
believed to have lain two centuries buried in the semblance of a dog under
a heap of stones hurled by the furious populace, but in truth walking earth
to this day, in virtue of the compact now to be revealed to thee. Hearken,
my son! Vain must be the machinations of my enemies, vain the onslaughts of
the rabble, so long as I fulfil a certain contract registered in hell's
chancery, as I have now done these three hundred years. And the condition
is this, that every year I present unto the Demon one who hath at my
persuasion assigned his soul to him in exchange for power, riches,
knowledge, magical gifts, or whatever else his heart chiefly desireth; nor
until this present year have I perilled the fulfilment of my obligation.
Seest thou these sc