TWILIGHT LAND

led the way down the steps and the young man followed.
At the bottom of the steps was a door of adamant. Upon
the door were these words in letters as black as ink, in
the handwriting of the old man who had gone:

“Oh, fool! fool! Beware what thou doest. Within
here shalt thou find death!” :

There was a key of brass in the door. The King of the
Demons turned the key and opened the door. The young
man entered after him.

Aben Hassen the Fool found himself in a vast vaulted
room, lit by the light of a single carbuncle set in the
centre of the dome above. In the middle of the ‘marble
floor was a great basin twenty paces broad, and filled to
the brim with money such as he had found in the brazen
vessel in the garden.

The young man could not believe what he saw with his
own eyes. ‘Oh, marvel of marvels!” he cried ; “little
wonder you could give me boundless wealth from such a
storehouse as this.” nee

Zadok laughed. “This,” said he, ‘(is nothing ; come
with me.”

He led him from this room to another-—like it vaulted,
and like it lit by a carbuncle set in the dome of the roof
above. In the middle of the floor was a basin such as
Aben Hassen the Fool had seen in the other room
beyond ; only this was filled with gold as that had been
filled with silver, and the gold was like that he had found
in the garden. When the young man saw this vast and
amazing wealth he stood speechless and breathless with
wonder. The Demon Zadok laughed. ‘ This,” said he,
“is great, but it is little. Come and I will show thee a
marvel indeed.”

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