Zorastro : a romance / by Creswick J. Thompson [pseud.].

  • Charles Thompson
Date:
1899
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Zorastro : a romance / by Creswick J. Thompson [pseud.]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Entering the room, which was lit by a curious lamp of metal, which hung from the dark recesses of a groined stone roof, a man, who was seated at a table turning the leaves of a ponderous book, rose to meet them. “ Welcome, Philip ; right glad am I to see thee again,’' he cried, as Zorastro greeted him, and then introduced Karl. “Come, be seated, and tell me of thy doings. It is a long time since we sat together at the feet of Trithemius.” While the two old friends talked of their student days, Karl had time to observe their host and his surroundings. He was little more than a dwarf in stature, and presented a most singular appearance, clad all in black. An old velvet cloak of the same hue was wrapt about him. His face, over which the skin was tightly drawn like parchment, was destitute of colour, while his grey hair hung over his shoulders and mingled with a straggly, unkempt beard. On his head he wore a close-fitting black velvet cap. His hands, which were very long and thin, ap- peared like the claws of some large bird. The lofty room was a complete litter of