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stuff in my veins to be watered down to pallid Martian sap？ Was
ambition and hope to desert me； and idleness itself become laborious；
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while life ran to seed in gilded uselessness？ Little did I guess how
unnecessary my fears were； or of the incredible fairy tale of adventure into
which fate was going to plunge me。
Still engrossed the next morning by these thoughts； I decided I would
go to Hath。 Hath was a manat least they said sohe might sympathise
even though he could not help； and so； dressing finished； I went down
towards the innermost palace whence for an hour or two had come sounds
of unwonted bustle。 Asking for the way occasion… ally from sleepy folk
lolling about the corridors； waiting as it seemed for their breakfasts to
come to them； and embarrassed by the new daylight； I wandered to and fro
in the labyrinths of that stony ant…heap until I chanced upon a curtained
doorway which admitted to a long cham… ber； high…roofed； ample in
proportions； with colonnades on either side separated from the main aisle
by rows of flowery figures and emblematic scroll…work； meaning I knew
not what。 Above those pillars ran a gallery with many windows looking
out over the ruined city。 While at the further end of the chamber stood
three broad steps leading to a dais。 As I entered； the whole place was full
of bustling girls； their yellow garments like a bed of flowers in the sunlight
trickling through the casements； and all intent on the spreading of a feast
on long tables ranged up and down the hall。 The morning light streamed
in on the white cloths。 It glittered on the glass and the gold they were
putting on the trestles； and gave resplendent depths of colour to the ribbon
bands round the pillars。 All were so busy no one noticed me standing in
the twilight by the door； but presently； laying a hand on a worker's
shoulder； I asked who they banqueted for； and why such unwonted
preparation？
〃It is the marriage…feast tonight； stranger； and a marvel you did not
know it。 You； too； are to be wed。〃
〃I had not heard of it； damsel； a paternal forethought of your
Government； I suppose？ Have you any idea who the lady is？〃
〃How should I know？〃 she answered laughingly。 〃That is the secret
of the urn。 Meanwhile； we have set you a place at the table…head near
Princess Heru； and tonight you dip and have your chance like all of them；
may luck send you a rosy bride； and save her from Ar…hap。〃
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〃Ay； now I remember； An told me of this before； Ar…hap is the
sovereign with whom your people have a little difference； and shares
unbidden in the free distribution of brides to…night。 This promises to be
interesting； depend on it I will come； if you will keep me a place where I
can hear the speeches； and not forget me when the turtle soup goes round；
I shall be more than grateful。 Now to another matter。 I want to get a few
minutes with your President； Prince Hath。 He concentrates the fluid
intelligence of this sphere； I am told。 Where can I find him？〃
〃He is drunk； in the library； sir！〃
〃My word！ It is early in the day for that； and a singular conjunction
of place and circumstance。〃
〃Where；〃 said the girl； 〃could he safer be？ We can always fetch him
if we want him； and sunk in blue ob… livion he will not come to harm。〃
〃A cheerful view； Miss； which is worthy of the attention of our
reformers。 Nevertheless； I will go to him。 I have known men tell more
truth in that state than in any other。〃
The servitor directed me to the library； and after deso… late wanderings
up crumbling steps and down mouldering corridors； sunny and lovely in
decay； I came to the im… mense lumber…shed of knowledge they had told
me of； a city of dead books； a place of dusty cathedral aisles stored with
forgotten learning。 At a table sat Hath the purposeless； enthroned in
leather and vellum； snoring in divine content amongst all that wasted
labour； and nothing I could do was sufficient to shake him into semblance
of intelligence。 So perforce I turned away till he should have come to
him… self； and wandering round the splendid litter of a noble library；
presently amongst the ruck of volumes on the floor； amongst those lordly
tomes in tattered green and gold； and ivory； my eye lit upon a volume
propped up curiously on end； and going to it through the confusion I saw
by the dried fruit rind upon the sticks supporting it； that the grave and
reverend tome was set to catch a mouse！ It was a splendid book when I
looked more closely； bound as a king might bind his choicest treasure； the
sweet… scented leather on it was no doubt frayed； the golden arabesques
upon the covers had long since shed their eyes of inset gems； the jewelled
clasp locking its learning up from vulgar gaze was bent and open。 Yet it
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was a lordly tome with an odour of sanctity about it； and lifting it with
diffi… culty； I noticed on its cover a red stain of mouse's blood。 Those who
put it to this quaint use of mouse…trap had already had some sport； but
surely never was a mouse crushed before under so much learning。 And
while I stood guessing at what the book might hold within； Heru； the
princess； came tripping in to me； and with the abrupt famili… arity of her
kind； laid a velvet hand upon my wrist； conned the title over to herself。
〃What does it say； sweet girl？〃 I asked。 〃The matter is learned； by its
feel；〃 and that maid； pursing up her pretty lips； read the title to me〃The
Secret of the Gods。〃
〃The Secret of the Gods；〃 I murmured。 〃Was it pos… sible other
worlds had struggled hopelessly to come within the barest ken of that great
knowledge； while here the same was set to catch a mouse with？〃
I said； 〃Silver…footed； sit down and read me a passage or two；〃 and
propping the mighty volume upon a table drew a bench before it and
pulled her down beside me。
〃Oh！ a horrid； dry old book for certain；〃 cried that lady； her pink
fingertips falling as lightly on the musty leaves as almond petals on March
dust。 〃Where shall I begin？ It is all equally dull。〃
〃Dip in；〃 was my answer。 〃 'Tis no great matter where； but near the
beginning。 What says the writer of his intention？ What sets he out to
prove？〃
〃He says that is the Secret of the First Great Truth； descended straight
to him〃
〃Many have said so much； yet have lied。〃
〃He says that which is written in his book is through him but not of
him； past criticism and beyond cavil。 'Tis all in ancient and crabbed
characters going back to the threshold of my learning； but here upon this
passage…top where they are writ large I make them out to say； 'ONLY THE
MAN WHO HAS DIED MANY TIMES BEGINS TO LIVE。'〃
〃A pregnant passage！ Turn another page； and try again； I have an
inkling of the book already。〃
〃'Tis poor； silly stuff；〃 said the girl； slipping a hand covertly into my
own。 〃Why will you make me read it？ I have a book on pomatums worth
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twice as much as this。〃
〃Nevertheless； dip in again； dear lady。 What says the next heading？〃
And with a little sigh at the heaviness of her task； Heru read out：
〃SOMETIMES THE GODS THEM… SELVES FORGET THE ANSWERS
TO THEIR OWN RIDDLES。〃
〃Lady； I knew it！
〃All this is still preliminary to the great matter of the book； but the
mutterings of the priest who draws ba