She was covered with scales, feathers, flowers, and birds as high as the
waist. For earrings she had silver cymbals, which flapped against her
cheeks. Her large fixed eyes gazed upon you, and a luminous stone,
set in an obscene symbol on her brow, lighted the whole hall by its
reflection in red copper mirrors above the door.
Matho stood a step forward; but a flag stone yielded beneath his heels
and immediately the spheres began to revolve and the monsters to roar;
music rose melodious and pealing, like the harmony of the planets; the
tumultuous soul of Tanith was poured streaming forth. She was about to
arise, as lofty as the hall and with open arms. Suddenly the monsters
closed their jaws and the crystal globes revolved no more.
Then a mournful modulation lingered for a time through the air and at
last died away.
"And the veil?" said Spendius.
Nowhere could it be seen. Where was it to be found? How could it be
discovered? What if the priests had hidden it? Matho experienced anguish
of heart and felt as though he had been deceived in his belief.
"This way!" whispered Spendius. An inspiration guided him. He drew Matho
behind Tanith's chariot, where a cleft a cubit wide ran down the wall
from top to bottom.
Then they penetrated into a small and completely circular room, so lofty
that it was like the interior of a pillar.
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