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and square, and having floors, walls and ceiling paneled with glossy

black oak But it had no s--a large bronze la, shed a flickering, ghostly light There were

no paintings--sos of skulls, skeletons, and

serpents, pleasantly wreathed the rooe ebony caldron at the upper end of the

apart skeleton on wires, with a scythe in

one hand of bone, and an hour-glass in the other, kept watch and ward

Opposite this cheerful-looking guardian, was a tall figure in black,

standing an motionless as if it, too, was carved in ebony It was a

feht, but as beautifully symmetrical as

a Venus Celestis

Her dress was of black velvet, that swept the polished

floor, spangled all over with stars of gold and rich rubies A profusion

of shining black hair fell in waves and curls almost to her feet; but

her face, from forehead to chin, was completely hidden by a black velvet

old casket,

blazing (like her dress) with rubies, and with the other she toyed with

a tame viper, that had twined itself round her wrist This was doubtless

La Masque, and beco conscious of that fact Sir Norman ht bend of the head, and

turning toward his companion, spoke: