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arkness。
The oppressive closeness of the evening was broken by a sudden gust of wind； and the still surface of the Suista rippled and curled like the hair of a nymph； and from the woods wrapt in the evening gloom there came forth a simultaneous murmur； as though they were awakening from a black dream。 Call it reality or dream； the momentary glimpse of that invisible mirage reflected from a far…off world； 250 years old； vanished in a flash。 The mystic forms that brushed past me with their quick unbodied steps； and loud； voiceless laughter； and threw themselves into the river； did not go back wringing their dripping robes as they went。 Like fragrance wafted away by the wind they were dispersed by a single breath of the spring。
Then I was filled with a lively fear that it was the Muse that had taken advantage of my solitude and possessed methe witch had evidently come to ruin a poor devil like myself making a living by collecting cotton duties。 I decided to have a good dinnerit is the empty stomach that all sorts of incurable diseases find an easy prey。 I sent for my cook and gave orders for a rich； sumptuous moghlai dinner； redolent of spices and ghi。
Next morning the whole affair appeared a queer fantasy。 With a light heart I put on a sola hat like the sahebs； and drove out to my work。 I was to have written my quarterly report that day； and expected to return late； but before it was dark I was strangely drawn to my houseby what I could not sayI felt they were all waiting； and that I should delay no longer。 Leaving my report unfinished I rose； put on my sola hat； and startling the dark； shady； desolate path with the rattle of my carriage； I reached the vast silent palace standing on the gloomy skirts of the hills。
On the first floor the stairs led to a very spacious hall； its roof stretching wide over ornamental arches resting on three rows of massive pillars； and groaning day and night under the weight of its own intense solitude。 The day had just closed； and the lamps had not yet been lighted。 As I pushed the door open a great bustle seemed to follow within； as if a throng of people had broken up in confusion； and rushed out through the doors and windows and corridors and verandas and rooms； to make its hurried escape。
As I saw no one I stood bewildered； my hair on end in a kind of ecstatic delight； and a faint scent of attar and unguents almost effected by age lingered in my nostrils。 Standing in the darkness of that vast desolate hall between the rows of those ancient pillars； I could hear the gurgle of fountains plashing on the marble floor； a strange tune on the guitar； the jingle of ornaments and the tinkle of anklets； the clang of bells tolling the hours； the distant note of nahabat； the din of the crystal pendants of chandeliers shaken by the breeze； the song of bulbuls from the cages in the corridors； the cackle of storks in the gardens； all creating round me a strange unearthly music。
Then I came under such a spell that this intangible； inaccessible； unearthly vision appeared to be the only reality in the worldand all else a mere dream。 That I； that is to say； Srijut So…and…so； the eldest son of So…and…so of blessed memory； should be drawing a monthly salary of Rs。 450 by the discharge of my duties as collector of cotton duties； and driving in my dog…cart to my office every day in a short coat and soia hat； appeared to me to be such an astonishingly ludicrous illusion that I burst into a horse…laugh； as I stood in the gloom of that vast silent hall。
At that moment my servant entered with a lighted kerosene lamp in his hand。 I do not know whether he thought me mad； but it came back to me at once that I was in very deed Srijut So…and…so； son of So…and…so of blessed memory； and that； while our poets； great and small； alone could say whether inside of or outside the earth there was a region where unseen fountains perpetually played and fairy guitars； struck by invisible fingers； sent forth an eternal harmony； this at any rate was certain； that I collected duties at the cotton market at Banch； and earned thereby Rs。 450 per mensem as my salary。 I laughed in great glee at my curious illusion； as I sat over the newspaper at my camp…table； lighted by the kerosene lamp。
After I had finished my paper and eaten my moghlai dinner； I put out the lamp； and lay down on my bed in a small side…room。 Through the open window a radiant star； high above the Avalli hills skirted by the darkness of their woods； was gazing intently from millions and millions of miles away in the sky at Mr。 Collector lying on a humble camp… bedstead。 I wondered and felt amused at the idea； and do not knew when I fell asleep or how long I slept； but I suddenly awoke with a start； though I heard no sound and saw no intruderonly the steady bright star on the hilltop had set； and the dim light of the new moon was stealthily entering the room through the open window； as if ashamed of its intrusion。
I saw nobody； but felt as if some one was gently pushing me。 As I awoke she said not a word； but beckoned me with her five fingers bedecked with rings to follow her cautiously。 I got up noiselessly； and； though not a soul save myself was there in the countless apartments of that deserted palace with its slumbering sounds and waiting echoes； I feared at every step lest any one should wake up。 Most of the rooms of the palace were always kept closed； and I had never entered them。
I followed breathless and with silent steps my invisible guideI cannot now say where。 What endless dark and narrow passages； what long corridors； what silent and solemn audience…chambers and close secret cells I crossed！
Though I could not see my fair guide； her form was not invisible to my mind's eye； an Arab girl； her arms； hard and smooth as marble； visible through her loose sleeves； a thin veil falling on her face from the fringe of her cap； and a curved dagger at her waist！ Methought that one of the thousand and one Arabian Nights had been wafted to me from the world of romance； and that at the dead of night I was wending my way through the dark narrow alleys of slumbering Bagdad to a trysting…place fraught with peril。
At last my fair guide stopped abruptly before a deep blue screen； and seemed to point to something below。 There was nothing there； but a sudden dread froze the blood in my heart…methought I saw there on the floor at the foot of the screen a terrible negro eunuch dressed in rich brocade； sitting and dozing with outstretched legs； with a naked sword on his lap。 My fair guide lightly tripped over his legs and held up a fringe of the screen。 I could catch a glimpse of a part of the room spread with a Persian carpetsome one was sitting inside on a bedI could not see her； but only caught a glimpse of two exquisite feet in gold…embroidered slippers； hanging out from loose saffron…coloured paijamas and placed idly on the orange…coloured velvet carpet。 On one side there was a bluish crystal tray on which a few apples； pears； oranges； and bunches of grapes in plenty； two small cups and a gold… tinted decanter were evidently waiting the guest。 A fragrant intoxicating vapour； issuing from a strange sort of incense that burned wi