midnight
. for it seemed to be universally understood that the venerable Prophet was one of the Circle of Mystics , -- persons whose knowledge of science , especially in matters connected with electricity , enabled them to perform astonishing juggleries , that were frequently accepted by the uninitiated vulgar as almost divine miracles . Not very long ago , according to Ormaz , who was animatedly recalling the circumstance for the benefit of the company , the words `` FALL , AL-KYRIS ! '' had appeared emblazoned in letters of fire on the sky at midnight , and the phenomenon had been accompanied by two tremendous volleys of thunder , to the infinite consternation of the multitude , who received it as a supernatural manifestation . But a member of the King 's Privy Council , a satirical skeptic and mistruster of everybody 's word but his own , undertook to sift the matter , -- and adopting the dress of the Mystics , managed to introduce himself into one of their secret assemblies , where with considerable astonishment , he saw them make use of a small wire , by means of which they wrote in characters of azure flame on the whiteness of a blank wall , -- moreover , he discovered that they possessed a lofty turret , built secretly and securely in a deep , unfrequented grove of trees , from whence , with the aid of various curious instruments and reflectors , they could fling out any pattern or device they chose on the sky , so that it should seem to be written by the finger of Lightning . Having elucidated these mysteries , and become highly edified thereby , the learned Councillor returned to the King , and gave full information as to the result of his researches , whereupon forty Mystics were at once arrested and flung into prison for life , and their nefarious practices were made publicly known to all the inhabitants of the city . Since then , no so-called `` spiritual '' demonstrations had taken place till now , when on this very night Zephoranim 's Presence-Chamber had been suddenly enveloped in the thunderous and terrifying darkness which had so successfully covered Khosrul 's escape .