ands of wide gold braid, and
buckled with two of the Anti-christ covenant badges. Apleon had
provided himself with these, and no one probably, save George Bullen,
noticed of what the bucklings consisted. But nothing escaped Bullen,
for while the attention of everyone else in the place was given only in
a _general_ way to the robing of the High Priest, _his_ whole and
absolute attention was concentrated on Apleon, all that he did, every
varying expression of his handsome but sardonic face, and every
movement of his fingers.

Another priest handed "The curious girdle of the Ephod." But, unlike
the ordained adjunct, as given in Exodus, in this case it was a
separate piece, and instead of being of the same stuff, was a cunningly
worked band of gold studded with many gems. The girdle handed to
Apleon, fastened with a clasp. The clasp was worth a Jew's ransom, and
like the breast-plate--presently to be slung about the neck of
Cohen--was a gift to the Temple by Apleon.

But the gift was accursed, for among the curiously, twisted gold of the
clasp, the "Mark of the Beast" could be traced, if carefully
scrutinized.

The Ephod Girdle being clasped, a priest handed the breastplate to the
Emperor. It should, according to the Mosaic command, have been made of
the same material as the Ephod--"of gold, of blue, of purple, of
scarlet, and of fine twisted linen."

But in this case it was made of gold, and slung by a gold chain about
the High-priest's neck.

The gold filigree setting for the stones, held within its cunning
workmanship that same damnable sign--"The Mark of the Beast," though
only a very keen, clever eye would have detected the foul hieroglyphic
among the twistings of gold patterning. The whole plate was about ten
inches square, the centre divided by gold ribs, across and across, into
twelve sections, each section holding a separate precious stone of
fabulous wealth. Just for a moment or two the wondrous mechanical
music stole out again upon the silence. Lovers of music recognized
part of Schubert's "Unfinished Symphony." What wondrous melody there
was in the fragment! The priests' voices chanted again, and all the
time the face of Apleon wore its mocking smile. Reading from the
top--right to left, as the breastplate hung on the breast--the stones
and their significance ran as follows:

CARBUNCLE, TOPAZ, SARDIUS,
Zebulun Issachar. Judah.

DIAMOND, SAPPHIRE,