e
transpiring around him.

Now to pretend that any supernatural powers had been displayed by the
learned astrologer, Doctor Herman Von Lieber, (for that was the name
under which this tenth wonder suffered himself to be known,) would,
perhaps, be going too far; though it was certain that he possessed a
knowledge of persons, and of the history of individuals who sought
him, that was really startling; and if we consider that the
development of personal matters of scandal, which we thought confined
to our own breasts, is more apt to astound us than effects which are
positively inexplicable and beyond the reach of human ken, we will not
be surprised at the celebrity which our astrologer suddenly acquired.

All the court was in commotion at his disclosures, and the royal
curiosity had been excited.

Late one afternoon the Chevalier de Grammont proposed to the king the
idea of disguising themselves and paying a visit to the astrologer,
who had created so great a sensation; and the monarch, who was anxious
that the time until evening--when he, with the chevalier, had a new
adventure to inspire them--should pass rapidly away, consented readily
to the suggestion.

At the residence of the astrologer they found all the arrangements of
the most singular character. They were met at the door by a couple of
Ethiopeans, fantastically dressed, who conducted them, without
question, through a suit of dim-looking apartments to one which would
have been quite dark, had its gloom not been relieved by a few small
antique lamps, whose light barely sufficed to disclose the necromantic
arrangements of the room and the untranslatable hieroglyphics around.

After bidding them be seated, one of the blacks approached a
strange-looking table, and rang a small silver bell, then lighting
another lamp, which in burning dispersed an aroma through the room,
he, with his companion, left our adventurers to themselves.

"Odds-fish, De Grammont," exclaimed the king, as the door closed, "the
sorcerer knows enough of human nature to commence his tricks by
astonishing the outward senses, thereby rendering the conquest of the
intellectual man the more simple."

"This looks necromancy, certainly;" replied De Grammont, "but let us
see further before we confess ourselves bewitched, even by so great an
adept."

At this moment a door at the further end of the apartment opened, and
a tall, stately, venerable looking man entered. His dress was almost
grotesque