But roused by the footsteps and voices they rose slowly, came towards the Ancients, whom they recognised by their dress, and rubbed themselves against their thighs, arching their backs with sonorous yawns; the vapour of their breath passed across the light of the torches.

The stir increased, doors closed, all the priests fled, and the Ancients disappeared beneath the columns which formed a deep vestibule round the temple.
These columns were arranged in such a way that their circular ranks, which were contained one within another, showed the Saturnian period with its years, the years with their months, and the months with their days, and finally reached to the walls of the sanctuary.
Here it was that the Ancients laid aside their sticks of narwhal's-horn,--for a law which was always observed inflicted the punishment of death upon any one entering the meeting with any kind of weapon.

Several wore a rent repaired with a strip of purple at the bottom of their garment, to show that they had not been economical in their dress when mourning for their relatives, and this testimony to their affliction prevented the slit from growing larger.

Others had their beards inclosed in little bags of violet skin, and fastened to their ears by two cords.

They all accosted one another by embracing breast to breast.