"And now let there be music!" The fire flared up as from somewhere there came a wild sound of violins and Robert felt himself being whirled into the ring in a wild dance, the 'pollo' of long gone Romany. "And what does your mirror tell you?" Robert looked into the glass- less mirror-frame then; there was a faint haze emanating from the edges and in the center - in the midst of that vacant frame, there appeared successive, everchanging images-successive pictures of sloe-eyed creatures that eventually gave way to a clear portrait of a Woman Beyond Beauty. "Who do you see?" And Robert answered in a high clear voice: "Lillith." "Take your place again, O Son of Lillith!" and Robert obeyed the black-robed master.

With another flourish, the cabalist cleared the center of the room. And laughed. "Come, come. Let us be seated." and he led the way to a large round wooden table, heaped with plates and pots.

"Well, everyone-what do you think?" Hugh was beaming at each in turn. The usual chatter, notably absent during their parade — sprang up again. "What a wild idea!" "Yeah, you can say that again." "Different!" "I'll say!” “How did you do all that?” asked Robert. The bangles at his wrist clashed together. “Ah, that is a long story," said Hugh. "A perfect Halloween story. Listen everybody and he began to relate the tale.

"I've always been interested in the odd things in life the occult, the hidden mysteries that are sometimes revealed — just a little. I've read the mysteries of the Tarot, the Book of the Dead all the classics, for years. Several things always impressed me — the way people unin- tentionally reveal their real natures and the odd quirks of names. Did you ever notice how appropriately some people are named? Well, I have. Anyway, the old geezer who built this place was quite a book collector. Maybe he was an amateur dabbler in the arts, but at any rate, when we took over this place, I found a room way up there—” indicating the tower above. "When I opened the room, it was to find an immense study far larger than you would suppose from the size of the room below. And books you would never believe the books that were there! In every conceivable language. Some I managed — some I had to get translated. Some of those books must have dated back to Alexandria — singed pages, rotten bindings but priceless. Some of those books are beyond price some of them are not only unique - they have never existed! Ah! You all look sceptical. I'll prove it - You all have your invitations with you, do you not?" Everyone made a start - and then made a show of the curious cards

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