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company of several benevolent persons； he was being taken from place to
place to see the more important buildings； and to observe the societies of
artificers labouring at their crafts。 The greater part of the day had already
been spent in visiting temples； open spaces reserved to children and those
whose speech； appearance； and general manner of behaving make it
desirable that they should be set apart from the contact of the
impressionable； halls containing relics and emblems of the past； places of
no particular size or attraction but described as being of unparalleled
historic interest； and the stalls of the more reputable venders of
merchandise。
Doubtless； with observing so many details of a conflicting nature； this
person's discriminating faculties had become obscured； but towards
evening he certainly understood that we sought the company of an
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assembly of those who had been selected from all the Empire to
pronounce definitely upon matters of supreme import。 The building before
which our chariot stopped had every appearance of being worthy of so
exceptional a gathering； and with a most affluent joy that I should at last
be able to glean a decisive pronouncement； I evaded those who had
accompanied me； and； mingling self…reliantly with the throng inside； I
quickly surrounded myself with many of the wisest…looking； and begged
that they would open their heads freely and express their innermost
opinions upon the subject of demons of all kinds。
Although I had admittedly hoped that these persons would not conceal
themselves behind the wings of epigram or intangible prevarication； I was
far from being prepared for the candour with which they greeted me； and
although by long usage I am reasonably unconcerned at the proximity of
any of our own recognised genii； it is not to be denied that my organs of
ferocity grew small and unstable at the revelations。
From their words it appeared that the spot on which we stood had long
been the recognised centre and meeting…place for every class of abandoned
and objectionable spirit of the universe。 Not only this； but several of the
persons who had gathered around were confidently pointed out as the
earthly embodiment of various diabolical Forces； while others cheerfully
admitted that they themselves were the shadows of certain illustrious ones
who had long Passed Above； and all united in declaring that those who
moved among them wearing the distinction of a dark blue uniform were
Evil Beings of a most ghoulish and repulsive type。 Indeed； as I looked
more closely； I could see that not only those pointed out； but all standing
around； had expressions immeasurably more in keeping with a band of
outcast spirits than suggestive of an assembly representing wisdom and
dignified ease。 At that moment； however； a most inelegant movement was
caused by one suddenly declaring that he had recognised this one who is
inscribing his experiences to be the apparition of a certain great reformer
who during the period of his ordinary existence had received the name of
Guy Fawkes； and amid a tumult of overwhelming acclamation a proposal
was raised that I should be carried around in triumph and afterwards
initiated into the observance of a time…honoured custom。 Although it had
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now become doubtful to what end the adventure was really tending； this
person would have submitted himself agreeably to the participation had
not the blue…apparelled band cleft their way into the throng just as I was
about to be borne off in triumph； and forming themselves into a ringed
barrier around me they presently succeeded in rearranging the contending
elements and in restoring me to the society of my friends。 To these persons
they complained with somewhat unreasoning acrimony that I had been
exciting the inmates into a state of rebellion with wild imaginings； and for
the first time I then began to understand that an important error had been
perpetrated by some one； and that instead of being a meeting…place for
those upholding the wisdom and authority of the country； the building was
in reality an establishment for the mentally defective and those of
treacherous instincts。
For some time after this occurrence I failed to regard the subject of
demons and allied Forces in any but a spirit of complete no enthusiasm；
but more recently my interest and research have been enlarged by the zeal
and supernatural conversation of a liberal…minded person who sought my
prosaic society with indefatigable persistence。 When we had progressed to
such a length that the one might speak of affairs without the other at once
interposing that he himself had also unfortunately come out quite destitute
of money； this stranger； who revealed to me that his name was Glidder； but
that in the company of a certain chosen few he was known intimately as
the Keeper of the Salograma； approached me confidentially； and inquired
whether we of our Central Kingdom were in the habit of receiving
manifestations from the spirits of those who had Passed Beyond。
At the unassumed ingenuousness of this remark I suffered my
impassiveness to relax； as I replied with well…established pride that
although a country which neglected its ancestors might doubtless be able
to produce more of the ordinary or graveyard spectres； we were
unapproachable for the diverse forms and malignant enmity of our
apparitions。 Of invisible beings alone； I continued tolerantly； we had the
distinction of being harassed by upwards of seven hundred clearly…defined
varieties； while the commoner inflictions of demons； shades； visions；
warlocks； phantoms； sprites； imps； phenomena； ghosts； and reflections
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passed almost without comment； and touching our admitted national
speciality of dragons； the honour of supremacy had never been qu