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Nikola down into the subterranean chamber the night before, was drawn aside
and another procession entered. First came the dwarfs, to the number of
thirty, each carrying a lighted torch in his hand; following them were nearly
a hundred monks, in white, swinging censers, then a dozen greybearded priests
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in black, but without the headcovering, after which the two men who were the
heads of this extraordinary sect.
Reaching the throne the procession divided itself into two parts, each half
taking up its position in the form of a crescent on either side. The two
heads seated themselves beneath the canopy, and exactly at the moment of
their doing so the great bell boomed forth again. As its echo died away all
the monks who had hitherto been kneeling rose to their feet and with one
accord took up the hymn of their sect. Though the music and words were
barbaric in the extreme, there was something about the effect produced that
stirred the heart beyond description. The hymn ceased as suddenly as it had
begun, and then, from among the whiterobed monks beside the throne, a man
stepped forth with a paper in his hand. In a loud voice he proclaimed the
fact that it had pleased the two Great Ones of the Mountains to fill the
vacancy which had so long existed in the triumvirate. For that reason they
had summoned to their presence a man who bore a reputation for wisdom and
holiness second to none. Him they now saw before them. He had rendered good
service to the Society, he had been proved to be a just man, and now it only
remained for him to state whether he was willing to take upon himself the
responsibilities of the office to which he had been called. Having finished
his speech, the man retired to his place again. Then four of the monks in
white, two from either side of the throne, walked slowly down the aisle
towards Nikola, and, bidding him follow them, escorted him in procession to
the room behind the curtain. While he was absent from the cave no one moved
or spoke.
At the end of something like ten minutes the small procession filed out
again, Nikola coming last. He was now attired in all the grand robes of his
office. His tall, spare form and venerable disguise became them wonderfully
well, and when he once more stood upon the dais before me I could not help
thinking I had never in my life seen a more imposing figure.
Dr. Nikola Returns
Chapter XV. How Nikola Was Installed
108
Again the great bell tolled out, and when the sound had ceased, the man who
had first spoken stepped forward and in a loud voice bade it be known to all
present that the expriest of Hankow was prepared to take upon himself the
duties and responsibilities of his office. As he retired to his place again
two monks came forward and escorted Nikola up the centre aisle towards the
triple throne. Arriving at the foot the two Great
Ones threw off the veils they had hitherto been wearing, and came down to
meet him. Having each extended a hand, they were about to escort him to his
place when there was a commotion at the end of the hall.
In a flash, though so far the sound only consisted of excited whispering, all
my forebodings rushed back upon me, and my heart seemed to stand still. The
Chief of the Three dropped Nikola's hand, and, turning to one of the monks
beside him, bade him go down the hall and discover what this unseemly
interruption might mean.
The man went, and was absent for some few minutes. When he returned it was to
report that there was a stranger in the monastery who craved immediate speech
with the Two on a matter concerning the election about to take place.
He was ordered to enter, and in a few minutes a travelstained, soiled and
bedraggled Chinaman made his appearance and humbly approached the throne. His
four followers remained clustered round the door at the further end.
"Who art thou, and what is thy business here? " asked the old man in a voice
that rang like a trumpet call.
"Thinkest thou that thou wilt be permitted to disturb us in this unseemly
fashion? "
"I humbly sue for pardon. But I have good reason, 0 my father! " returned the
man, with a reverence that nearly touched the ground.
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"Let us hear it then, and be speedy. What is thy name, and whence comest
thou? "
"
I am the Chief Priest of the temple of Hankow, and I come asking for justice
I"
said the man, and as he said it a great murmur of astonishment ran through
the hall. I saw Nikola step back a pace and then stand quite still. If it
were the truth this man was telling we were lost beyond hope of redemption.
"Thou foolish man to come to us with so false a story! " said the elder of
the Two. " Knowest thou not that the Priest of Hankow stands before thee? "
"It is false! " said the man. " I come to warn you that that man is an
impostor. He is no priest, but a foreign devil who captured me and sent me
out of the way while he took my place."
"Then how didst thou get here? " asked the chief of the sect.
"I escaped," said the man, " from among those whom he paid to keep me, and
made my way to Tientsin, thence to Pekin, and so on here."
"0 my father! " said Nikola, just as quietly as if nothing unusual were
happening, " wilt thou allow such a cunninglydevised tale to do me evil in
thy eyes? Did I not bring with me a letter from the High Priest of the
Llamaserai, making known to thee that I am he whom thou didst expect? Wilt
thou then put me to shame before the world? "
The old man did not answer.
"I, too, have a letter from the High Priest," said the new arrival eagerly.
Whereupon he produced a document and handed it to the second of the Two.
Dr. Nikola Returns
Chapter XV. How Nikola Was Installed
109
"Peace! peace! We will retire and consider upon this matter," said the old
man. Then turning to the monks beside him he said sternly : " See that
neither of these men escape." After which he retired with his colleague to
the inner room, whence they had appeared at the beginning of the ceremony.
In perfect silence we awaited their return, and during the time they were
absent, I noticed a curious fact that I
had remarked once or twice in my life before. Though all day I had been [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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