Page:Artabanzanus (Ferrar, 1896).djvu/73

Rh Julius stood beside him, putting a potent blistering cap on his head, and forcing a horrible drug, extracted from human skulls, into his mouth. 'Poor king!' I could not help saying aloud, 'son of an unfortunate father—descendant of a most unhappy queen—is this the end of all your greatness and reckless pleasure?'

'The end is not yet,' replied the Demon. 'That will never come.'

I then murmured to myself: 'Is there a merciful Ruler of the universe in existence?'

The names of even the most eminent of the delinquents who occupied this Hall are too numerous for repetition; and I could not remember the hundredth part of them. As for the common herd, they pressed upon me so thickly that I was nearly sick to death. They formed groups here and there, and abused and fought with each other in the open streets, their bald scalps shining in the gaslight. Many of them, poor beings, were consumed with a too-late and unavailing repentance. In uttermost shame they were trying to hide their nakedness in their squalid garments.

'This is the palace of Theodora, Empress of Constantinople,' said Artabanzanus, stopping before another gigantic and splendid edifice. 'She was a very extraordinary woman—a low, common woman in early life who became the wife of the Emperor Justinian. Come in; she is holding her court now. I will present you to her.'

'Oh no, thank you, sir,' I replied, shuddering. 'Please excuse me. I have seen enough. Take me out of this I implore your majesty; when will you take me back, sir, to the Great Lake?'

He laughed.

'All in good time, my thin-skinned friend. My dear Mr. Ubertus, you must have patience. I am bound to take you back within a certain number of days. Make yourself