I thought of the witch of Endor, of those who practised divinations, and of the idolatrous practices on High Places and in groves, and I trembled lest the fate of the Prophets of Baal might also be that of the profane inquirers. Outside, the music played and the couples were dancing. The Wizard looked up as we stood before him. Behind the blue spectacles and the great beard, even in the enormous head, I recognised nothing and suspected nothing; but when he spoke, and in deep sonorous tones called my companion by his name---- "Lord Chudleigh, what wilt thou inquire of the oracle?"---- Then indeed I turned giddy and faint, and should have fallen, but my lord caught me by the waist. "Be soothed, Kitty," he whispered. "Here is nothing to fright us but the mummery of a foolish masquerade or the roguery of a rascal quack. Calm yourself." Alas! I feared no more the crocodile, nor the horrid death's heads, nor the Turkish beard, nor the mitre painted with devils--if they were devils. They disquieted me at first sight, it is true: but now was I in deadly terror, for I knew and feared the voice. It was no other than the voice of the Doctor, the Chaplain of the Fleet. For what trouble, what mischief, was he here? Then I recovered, saying to myself: "Kitty, be firm. Resolve by neither act nor word to do harm to thy lover. Consent not to any snare. Be resolute and alert." Lord Chudleigh, seeing me thus composed, stepped forward to the table and said-- "Sir Magician, Wizard, Conjurer, or whatever name best befits you, for you and your pretended science I care not one jot, nor do I believe but that it is imposture and falsehood. Perhaps, however, you are but acting a part in the masquerade. But the young lady hath a desire to see what you do, and to ask you a question or two." "Your lordship must own that I know your name, in spite of your domino." "Tut, tut! everybody here knows my name, whether I wear a domino or take it off. That is nothing. You are probably one of the company in disguise." "You doubt my power? Then, without your leave, my lord, permit me to tell you a secret known to me, yourself, and one or two others only. It is a secret which no one has yet whispered about; none of the company at the Wells know it; it is a great secret: an important secret"--all this time his voice kept growing deeper and deeper. "It is a secret of the darkest. Stay--this young lady, I think, knows it." "For Heaven's sake----" I cried, but was interrupted by my lord. "Tell me your secret," he said calmly. "Let us know this wonderful secret." The Doctor leaned forward over the table and whispered in his ear a few words. Lord Chudleigh started back and gazed at him with dismay. "So!" he cried; "it is already becoming town talk, is it?" The Magician shook his head. "Not so, my lord. No one knows it yet except the persons concerned in it. No one will ever know it if your lordship so pleases. I told you but to show the power of the Black Art."