thin.

The grand sorcerer Charka and the grand sorceress Thoubool occupied a
conspicuous divan upholstered with cloth of gold. The sorceress was a
grand beauty, neither blond nor brunette, but her complexion would,
chameleon-like, change from a rosy white to a clear golden hue. Her
hair was bright copper, gleaming like strands of metal. Her eyes
changed color incessantly, being successively blue and black.

Her robe was a pale green silk, bound at the waist with a heavy
cincture of gold. She wore a necklace of many-colored gems.

The grand sorcerer wore a robe of moss-green velvet embroidered with
appliqued white silk lace, resembling lotus bloom. Both wore diadems
of emeralds. Other twin-souls were arrayed in equally splendid attire,
and seated on couches whose upholstery accentuated or harmonized with
their fair occupants. Whatever the color selected, I observed that
each twin-soul priest and priestess wore robes of a consanguineous
hue, however the individual stuffs might vary in texture or quality. I
also observed that in no case were the laws of taste in color
violated, and unerring instinct had guided every priest and priestess
in achieving the most piquant harmonies of color. With garments in
simultaneous contrast each twin-soul sat on a couch upholstered in
fabrics in pure contrast of color.

How I wished some great painter of the outer world could transfer to
canvas that conflagration of beauty.

Several twin-souls, with garments that seemed beaten gold, reclined on
black velvet couches beside us. On an immense divan of white velvet
near by sat a group of priests and priestesses arrayed in stuffs that
were the strangest tones of purple, brown, violet, green, and red. A
twin-soul in golden maize sat on a dark purple couch. A twin-soul in
ecru sat on a salmon-colored couch, while a twin-soul in myosotis blue
reposed on a couch of the color of Australian gold. Celibates and
vestals in russet robes luxuriated on couches of magnolia green.

It was evident their artists possessed a happy skill in creating such
harmonies of costume. Sculptor, upholsterer and _couturiere_ formed
the trinity of genius that wrought marvels of form and color.

Harikar, the Holy Soul, was the deity, who was symbolized by the
goddess, and ministered to by such a retinue of souls. No doubt
Harikar was mightily pleased at such a tribute of wealth, love and
beauty. As far as an individual could appreciate such splendor, I must
testify