"
He scarcely had read these words before the mountain against which the
terrace was reared trembled, and the watch-towers were ready to topple
headlong upon them; the rock yawned, and disclosed within it a staircase
of polished marble that seemed to approach the abyss; upon each stair
were planted two large torches, like those Nouronihar had seen in her
vision, the camphorated vapour ascending from which gathered into a cloud
under the hollow of the vault.
This appearance, instead of terrifying, gave new courage to the daughter
of Fakreddin. Scarcely deigning to bid adieu to the moon and the
firmament, she abandoned without hesitation the pure atmosphere to plunge
into these infernal exhalations. The gait of those impious personages
was haughty and determined; as they descended by the effulgence of the
torches they gazed on each other with mutual admiration, and both
appeared so resplendent, that they already esteemed themselves spiritual
Intelligences; the only circumstance that perplexed them was their not
arriving at the bottom of the stairs; on hastening their descent with an
ardent impetuosity, they felt their steps accelerated to such a degree,
that they seemed not walking, but falling from a precipice.
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