'Lead on.' 'I don't know what to say,' said Cyril; and the Others said the same.
'Ask for the High Priest,' said the Phoenix.

'Say that you have a secret to unfold that concerns my worship, and he will lead you to the innermost sanctuary.' So the children went in, all four of them, though they didn't like it, and stood in a large and beautiful hall adorned with Doulton tiles, like a large and beautiful bath with no water in it, and stately pillars supporting the roof.

An unpleasing representation of the Phoenix in brown pottery disfigured one wall.

There were counters and desks of mahogany and brass, and clerks bent over the desks and walked behind the counters.

There was a great clock over an inner doorway.
'Inquire for the High Priest,' whispered the Phoenix.
An attentive clerk in decent black, who controlled his mouth but not his eyebrows, now came towards them.