'The Academy,' and 'The Athenæum.'

   Leonora, whose knowledge of languages was extensive and peculiar, told Pellmelli that these names were derived from the old Greek.

   'Ah,' said he, 'you have clearly drunk of the wisdom of the past, and thy hands have held the water of the world's knowledge. Know you Latin also?'

   'Yes, O Pellmelli,' replied Leonora, and Pellmelli said he preferred modern tongues, though it would often be useful to him if he did in his dealings with the Lo-grollas.

   'However, if our Greek is a little to seek, our Russian is O.K.,' he said proudly.

   He was very bitter against the Lo-grollas.

   The Lo-grollas' favourite weapon, he told us, was the club, and he even proposed to show us this instrument.

   Our litter presently stopped outside a stately palace.

   The street was dark, as always in this strange city, but old Pellmelli paused, sniffed, and, bending his ear to the ground, listened intently.

   'I smell the incense,' he said, 'and hear the melodious Rolling of the Logs. But they shall know their master!'

   Thus speaking, he led us into a vast hall, where the Lo-grollas were sitting or standing, 'offering each other incense,' as Pellmelli remarked, from thin tubes of paper, which smoked at one end.

   'Now listen,' said Pellmelli, and he cried aloud the name of a poet known to the Lo-grollas.

   Instantly we heard, from I know not what recess, a rolling fire of applause and admiration, which swept past us with stately and solemn music, like a hymn of praise.

   '

    There

   ,' said Pellmelli, 'I told you so. This is the place of the Rolling of Logs, and yourselves have heard it.'

   Leonora said she did not mind how often she heard it, as she quite agreed with the sentiments.

 Prev. P 27/57 next