'We are your man,' said he. 'We propose to-morrow to send our representative to interview a magician who has just arrived in this country. He is a mysterious character; his name is Asher,[21] and it is said that he is the Wandering Jew, or, at all events, has lived for many centuries. He, if any one, can direct you in your search.' [21] Pronounced _Assha_.--ED. He then appointed a place where his representative should meet us next day, and we separated, Pellmelli taking his staff, and going off to lead an excursion against the Ama-Tory, a brutal and licentious tribe. CHAPTER VIII. HE. Next day Leonora was suffering from a slight feverish cold, and I don't wonder at it considering what we suffered in the Zû. I therefore went alone to the rendezvous where I was to meet 'our representative.' To my surprise, nobody was there but old Pellmelli himself. 'Why, you said you would send your representative!' I exclaimed. 'We are our usual representative,' he answered rather sulkily. 'Come on, for we have to call on Messrs. Apples, the famous advertisers.' 'Why?' said I. 'Can you ask?' he replied. 'Can aught be more interesting than an advertiser?' '_I_ call it log rolling,' I answered; but he was silent. He went at a great pace, and presently, in a somewhat sordid street, pointed his finger silently to an object over a door. _It was the carven head of an Ethiopian!_ This new confirmation of the prophecy gave me quite a turn, especially when I read the characters inscribed beneath-- TRY OUR FINE NEGRO'S HEAD! 'Here dwells the sorcerer, even Asher,' said Pellmelli, and began to crawl upstairs on his hands and knees. 'Why do you do that?' I asked, determined, if I must follow Pellmelli, at all events not to follow his example. 'It is the manner of the tribe of Interviewers, my daughter. Ours is a blessed task, yet must we feign humility, or the savage people kick us and drive us forth with our garments rent.' He now humbly tapped at a door, and a strange voice cried, '_Entrez!_' Pellmelli (whose Russian is his strong point) paused in doubt, but I explained that the word was French for 'come in.' He crawled in on his stomach, while I followed him erect, and we found ourselves before a strange kind of tent. It had four posts, and a broidered veil was drawn all round it. Within the veil the sorcerer was concealed, and he asked in a gruff tone, 'Wadyerwant?' Pellmelli explained that he had come to receive a brief personal statement for the Budget. The Voice replied, without hesitation, 'The Centuries and the Æons pass, and I too make the pass. _Je saute la coupe_,' he added, in a foreign tongue. 'While thy race wore naught but a little blue paint, I dwelt among the forgotten peoples. The Red Sea knows me, and the Nile has turned scarlet at my words. I am Khoot Hoomi, I am also the Chela of the Mountain!' 'Now it is my turn to ask _you_ a few easy questions.