Page:The Necromancer, or, The Tale of the Black Forest Vol. 2.djvu/15

 statues, thrilled with anxious expectation, and scarce ventured to breathe.

The old man was clad in a long robe of black silk, his snow-white head uncovered, a white silken sash, marked with strange characters, was tied round his waist, and the well known black wallet hung on his back; having taken it down he untied it, and exhibited the mysterious instruments of conjuration: at his mute command the host carried a table in the centre of the room, put two lighted torches upon it and bolted the door.

Now he gave us a signal to form a circle round him; the Austrian placed himself to his left side, turning his face towards the door, Lieutenant N, by the conjuror's own desire, to his right; the inn-keeper stood close by the Austrian, one of Lieutenant N's friends took his station by the landlord, and I placed myself close to the latter. The Necromancer appeared to care little for the