After a profound
silence for about the space of half an hour, Dee looked towards his
visitor as if expecting that he should begin. The seer threw off his
upper garment, and kneeling down, clad only in a short tunic of gray
cloth, without ruff or belt, he betook himself, though with some
agitation, to the repeating of a few short Latin prayers, intermingled
with cabalistical jargon, and scraps of some unknown and uncouth tongue.
The Doctor gave special heed thereto, hearkening as though not
over-credulous in the boasted skill of his visitor. Presently the latter
put his face close to the stone, binding it before his eyes with a white
napkin, his head still resting on the table. Dee asked him softly, "What
seest thou?"
"Nothing," said Bartholomew.
"Is the curtain not yet visible in the stone?"
"I cannot even see the curtain," replied the seer; "for all is dark."
Then Dee began to pray earnestly that some of his former friends might
appear, whom he called by many outlandish names, such as _Ave, Nalvage,
Madini_, and others. Immediately Bartholomew cried out--
"I see a glimmer!--Soft!"
The Doctor scarcely durst breathe, fearing to interrupt the opening of
the vision.
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