rranean rock-hewn
temples under the spiritual control of the grand sorcerer Charka and
the grand sorceress Zooly-Soase.

The grand sorcerer's dominion was directly underneath the supernal
palace of Egyplosis. An ornate pagoda of stone covered the entrance to
the underground palace. The descent was by means of a wide gradient of
polished marble, and there was also an elevator car, beautifully
decorated with electro-plated sheets of gold and lit by electricity,
which was the most rapid means of descent to the pavement beneath, a
distance of two hundred and fifty feet. The procession of twin-souls
and attendants, who carried Lyone and myself in a splendid litter of
gold, entered the palace by means of the inclined marble highway whose
sculptured walls were radiant with electric light. The many temples of
the underground palace were devoted to the most occult worship of
Harikar. There was an immense central edifice whose roof, supported by
lofty columns, and sculptured in fantastic beauty, rose two hundred
feet above the pavement. Here electric suns lit up what was merely the
vestibule of a hundred temples all hewn from the same pale green
marble, the aquelium floors glimmering like a fathomless sea.

As we entered this splendid abode of sorcery, we were received by the
august officials of the sanctuary. The grand sorcerer Charka was a man
of imperial presence, gracious and subtle. His flesh was of the hue of
silver bronze and he possessed noble features. His hair was blue and
his blue beard was trimmed into a rounded semi-circle on his chin,
while his mustache spread nobly on either side of his lips. He wore a
robe of emerald blue silk, embroidered with silver flowers. The grand
sorceress, Thoubool who accompanied him, possessed the complexion of a
pearl, was arrayed in a robe of celestial blue silk, and, like the
grand sorcerer, wore a diadem of rubies.

Our reception was extremely gracious, the grand sorcerer saying he
felt highly honored with our visit.

As we passed down the palace pavement, an immense bell opened its
mouth of gaunt and glorious bronze. Soft explosions of music swept in
thrilling moans through temple and cloister, the echoing walls
resounding with ritournels of enthusiastic peace. As if inspired with
passion, I could hear the bell swing and roll on its delirious pivot
uttering its deep-sounding fantasy.

I saw, illuminating the sculptured archway of each temple on either
side of us, the name ther