They then turned the gleam of both lights upon the knight, and having accurately surveyed him, turned their faces to each other, and set up a loud, yelling laugh, which resounded in his ears.

The sound was so ghastly that Sir Kenneth started at hearing it, and hastily demanded, in the name of God, who they were who profaned that holy place with such antic gestures and elritch exclamations.
"I am the dwarf Nectabanus," said the abortion-seeming male, in a voice corresponding to his figure, and resembling the voice of the night-crow more than any sound which is heard by daylight.
"And I am Guenevra, his lady and his love," replied the female, in tones which, being shriller, were yet wilder than those of her companion.
"Wherefore are you here ?" again demanded the knight, scarcely yet assured that they were human beings which he saw before him.
"I am," replied the male dwarf, with much assumed gravity and dignity, "the twelfth Imaum.

I am Mohammed Mohadi, the guide and the conductor of the faithful.

A hundred horses stand ready saddled for me and my train at the Holy City, and as many at the City of Refuge.

I am he who shall bear witness, and this is one of my houris." "Thou liest!" answered the female, interrupting her companion, in tones yet shriller than his own; "I am none of thy houris, and thou art no such infidel trash as the Mohammed of whom thou speakest.