Suddenly，astheystoodinonehall，whichwassurroundedbydraperiesofsilverandwhite，theEgyptianclappedhishands，and，asifbyenchantment，abanquetrosefromthefloor——acouchorthrone，withacrimsoncanopy，ascendedsimultaneouslyatthefeetofIone——andatthesameinstantfrombehindthecurtainsswelledtheinvisibleandsoftestmusic。
ArbacesplacedhimselfatthefeetofIone——andchildren，youngandbeautifulasLoves，ministeredtothefeast。
Thefeastwasover，themusicsankintoalowandsubduedstrain，andArbacesthusaddressedhisbeautifulguest：
’Hastthouneverinthisdarkanduncertainworld——hastthouneveraspired，mypupil，tolookbeyond——hastthouneverwishedtoputasidetheveiloffuturity，andtobeholdontheshoresofFatetheshadowyimagesofthingstobe？Foritisnotthepastalonethathasitsghosts：eacheventtocomehasalsoitsspectrum——itsshade；whenthehourarrives，lifeentersit，theshadowbecomescorporeal，andwalkstheworld。Thus，inthelandbeyondthegrave，areevertwoimpalpableandspiritualhosts——thethingstobe，thethingsthathavebeen！Ifbyourwisdomwecanpenetratethatland，weseetheoneastheother，andlearn，asIhavelearned，notalonethemysteriesofthedead，butalsothedestinyoftheliving。’
’Asthouhastlearned！——Canwisdomattainsofar？’