.

Gratis poenitet esse probum_.

Burgess!" "Sir ?" "What the devil are you scratching for outside my door ?" "A letter, sir." "Shove it under, and let me alone." The letter appeared, cautiously inserted under the door, and lay there very white on the floor.

He eyed it, scowling, without curiosity, turned over, and presently became absorbed in the book he had been reading: "Zarathustra asked Ahura-Mazda: 'Heavenly, Holiest, Pure, when a pure man dies where does his soul dwell during that night ?' "Then answered Ahura-Mazda: 'Near his head it sits itself down.

On this night his soul sees as much joy as the living world possesses.' "And Zarathustra asked: 'Where dwells the soul throughout the second night after the body's death ?' "Then answered Ahura-Mazda: 'Near to his head it sits itself down.' "Zarathustra spake: 'Where stays the soul of a pure roan throughout the third night, O Heavenly, Holiest, Pure ?' "And thus answered Ahura-Mazda, Purest, Heavenly: 'When the Third Night turns Itself to Light, the soul arises and goes forward; and a wind blows to meet it; a sweet-scented one, more sweet-scented than other winds.' "And in that wind there cometh to meet him His Own Law in the body of a maid, one beautiful, shining, with shining arms; one powerful, well-grown, slender, with praiseworthy body; one noble, with brilliant face, as fair in body as the loveliest.
"And to her speaks the soul of the pure man, questioning her who she might truly be.