before the signs told me that I had passed beneath the walls, and
was well within the precincts of the city. And here the vow of the
Seven hampered my progress; for it is ordained that under no
circumstances, whatever the stress, shall egress be made from this
passage before mortal eye. One branch after another did I try, but
always found loiterers near the exits. I had hoped to make my
emergence by that path which came inside the royal pyramid. But
there was no chance of coming up unobserved here; the place was
humming like a hive. And so, too, with each of the five next
outlets that I visited. The city was agog with some strange
excitement.

But I came at last to a temple of one of the lesser Gods, and
stood behind the image for a while making observation. The place
was empty; nay, from the dust which robed all the floors and the
seats of the worshippers, it had been empty long enough; so I moved
all that was needful, stepped out, and closed all entry behind me.
A broom lay unnoticed on one of the pews, and with this I soon
disguised all route of footmark, and took my way to the temple
door. It was shut, and priest though I was, the secret of its
opening was beyond me.

Here was a pretty pass. No one but the attendant priests of
the temple could move the mechanism which closed and opened the
massive stone which filled the doorway; and if all had gone out to
attend this spectacle, whatever it might be, that was stirring the
city, why there I should be no nearer enlargement than before.

There was no sound of life within the temple precincts; there
were evidences of decay and disuse spread broadcast on every hand;