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58 uniform of a Roman military tribune. The chariot stopped at the palace gate. The officer stepped down and presented his hand to the lady to help her in alighting, but she disdainfully refused it, tossed her magnificent head, and, leaping to the ground, entered the palace, followed by her abashed, but still obsequious knight.

'I must not speak to her now,' said the Demon with a sardonic grin. 'She is in one of her send-me-flying-over-the-moon tantrums, but we can go in. I'll make you invisible.'

Accordingly I felt an immediate change coming over me: for the first time in my life I was nothing but a spirit of air.

'Who is she, sir?' I was bold enough to ask.

'I ought not to mention her name,' answered he; 'but nothing may be concealed from you—Cleopatra, whom you may have heard of. And that is Mark Antony who follows so submissively at her heels. We shall have a fine laugh now; I have many a fine laugh at these people.'

The idea of laughing in such a place, and at such a scene, was so revolting that my heart almost stood still in my breast.

The carriage-folk went into a large hall, where there stood a high throne of lead, and I noticed that the hall was also furnished in a peculiar manner, with several massive chairs, couches, tables, and articles to which I can give no name, all, or nearly all, made of the same dingy metal. I cannot say positively that it was lead, having neglected to bring back a specimen of it for the benefit of science, but it was certainly very like lead, and that I shall call it. Glittering with a pale, ghastly light, there hung from the ceiling three heavy chandeliers crowded with candles of all the colours rainbow. The renowned queen lightly ascended the steps of the throne, and seated herself with great solemnity. She held up her right hand, a trumpet sounded, and instantly the room was filled with a motley group of elegant