THE TALISMAN OF SOLOMON

“T wish that 1 knew what was there,” said the young
man.

The Demon laughed. ‘Some time,” said he, ‘thou
mayest find for thyself. Come, let us leave here and go
to the palace which thy father built years ago, and which
the left behind him when he quitted this place for the
place in which thou knewest him.”

He led the way and the young man followed; they
passed through the vaulted rooms and out through the
door of adamant, and Zadok locked it behind them and
gave the key to the young man.

“All this is thine now,” said he; ‘I give it to thee as
I gave it to thy father. I have shown thee how to enter,
and thou mayst go in whenever it pleases thee to do so.”

They ascended the steps, and so reached the garden
above. Then Zadok struck his heel upon the ground,
and the earth closed as it had opened. He led the young
man from the spot until they had come to a wide avenue
that led to the palace beyond. ‘“ Here I leave thee,” said
‘the Demon, “but if ever thou hast need of me, call and I
will come.”

Thereupon he vanished like a flash, leaving the young
man standing like one in a dream.

He saw before him a garden of such splendour and ©
magnificence as he had never dreamed of even in his
wildest fancy. There were seven fountains as clear as
crystal that shot high into the air and fell back into
basins of alabaster. There was a broad avenue as white
as snow, and thousands of lights lit up everything as
light as day. Upon either side of the avenue stood a
row of black slaves, clad in garments of white silk, and
with jewelled turbans upon their heads. Each held a

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