This staff seemed constructed from a reed: looked at, it seemed light, in
the hand it felt heavy; it was of a pale, faded yellow, wrought with black
rings at equal distances, and graven with half obliterated characters that
seemed hieroglyphic. I remembered to have seen Margrave with it before,
but I had never noticed it with any attention until now, when it was
passed from hand to hand. At the head of the cane there was a large
unpolished stone of a dark blue.

"Is this a pebble or a jewel?" asked one of the party.

"I cannot tell you its name or nature," said Margrave; "but it is said to
cure the bite of serpents[1], and has other supposed virtues,--a talisman,
in short."

He here placed the staff in my hands, and bade me look at it with care.
Then he changed the conversation and renewed the way, leaving the staff
with me, till suddenly I forced it back on him. I could not have
explained why, but its touch, as it warmed in my clasp, seemed to send
through my whole frame a singular thrill, and a sensation as if I no
longer felt my own weight,--as if I walked on air.

Our rambles came to a close; the visitors went away; I re-entered the
house through the sash-window of Forman's study. Margrave threw his hat
and staff on the table, and amused himself with examining minutely the
tracery on the mantelpiece. Strahan and myself left him thus occupied,
and, going into the adjoining library, resumed our task of examining the
plans for the new house. I continued to draw outlines and sketches of
various alterations, tending to simplify and contract Sir Philip's general
design. Margrave soon joined us, and this time took his seat patiently