Dark shadows were loitering in every corner of the room.

The aroma of flowers from the adjacent gardens floated in at the open windows, and made the hot air drugged and heavy.

Ulamhala slowly and noiseless as a cat stepped to the window, and, leaning out over the marble railing, looked up into the violet-black heavens.

There was no moon, but a trembling flame on one of the candelabras threw a dull, ruddy glow over his white dress and snowy turban.

His face was hid in the gloom, but the others knew, though they could hardly see, that he was pointing upward with his right hand.
"Behold," began the astrologer, "three thousand seven hundred and fifty years since the days of the great Sargon of Agade have we of the race of the Chaldeans studied the stars.