sparent, and permitted a bright
flame within to shine through, and shed a yellow lustre over
surrounding objects. All the edges, and angles, and points of the
irregularly-formed walls were of burnished gold, which reflected the
rays of these pendant lamps with dazzling brilliancy, while the broad
masses of the frosted walls shone with a subdued light. Magnificent
curtains of golden filigree fell in rich voluminous folds on the
pavement, half concealing several archways which led into smaller
caverns, similar to the large one. Altogether it was a scene of
luxurious richness and splendour that is utterly indescribable.

But the thing that amazed Ned Sinton most was, that the company of
well-dressed ladies and gentlemen who moved about in these splendid
halls, and ate golden ices, or listened to the exquisite strains of
music that floated on the atmosphere, were all as yellow as guineas!
Ned could by no means understand this. In order to convince himself
that there was no deception in the matter, he shook hands with several
of the people nearest to him, and found that they were cold and hard as
iron; although, to all appearance, they were soft and pliable, and could
evidently move about with perfect freedom.

Ned was very much puzzled indeed. One would have thought he must have
believed himself to be dreaming. Not a bit of it. He knew perfectly
well that he was wide-awake. In fact, a doubt upon that point never
crossed his mind for a moment. At length he resolved to ask the meaning
of it all, and, observing a stout old gentleman, with a bland smile on
his yellow countenance, in the act of taking a pinch of golden snuff
from a gold snuff-box, he advanced and accosted him.

"Pray, sir," began Ned, modestly, "may I take the liberty of asking you
what is the meaning of all this?"

"All what, sir?" inquired the old gentleman, in a deep metallic voice.

"This golden cave, with its wonderful lamps, and especially these golden
people; and--excuse me, sir, for remarking on the circumstance--you seem
to be _made of gold_ yourself. I have often heard the term applied to
extremely rich persons, but I really never expected to see a man who was
literally `worth his weight in gold.'"

The old gentleman laughed sarcastically at this sally, and took an
enormous pinch of gold-dust.

As he did not seem inclined to be communicative, however, Ned said
again, "What is the meaning of it all? can you explain what has done
it?"