H. P. Lovecraft freely admitted that much of the inspiration for the creation of the Elder Gods mythology upon which he based his best horror tales came from the precedent set by Robert W. Chambers in that rare volume, "The King in Yellow." Here is a little known tale from that book, replete with hints of powers of evil beyond all mortal suspicion.
In the Court of the Dragon
by Robert W. Chambers
"Oh Thou who burn'st in heart for those who burn
In Hell, whose fires thyself shall feed in turn;
How long be crying,—'Mercy on them, God!'
Why, who art thou to teach and He to learn?"
In the Church of St. Barnabé vespers were over; the clergy left the altar; the little choir-boys flocked across the chancel and settled in the stalls. A Suisse in rich uniform marched down the south aisle, sounding his staff at every fourth step on the stone pavement; behind him came that eloquent preacher and good man, Monseigneur C.
My chair was near the chancel rail. I now turned toward the west end of the church. The other people between the altar and the pulpit turned too. There was a little scraping and rustling while the congregation seated itself again; the preacher mounted the pulpit stairs, and the organ voluntary ceased.
I had always found the organ playing at St. Barnabe highly interesting. Learned and scientific it was, too much so for my small knowledge, but expressing a vivid if cold intelligence. Moreover, it possessed the French quality of taste; taste reigned supreme, self-controlled, dignified and reticent.
To-day, however, from the first chord I had felt a change for the worse, a sinister change. During vespers it had been chiefly the chancel organ which supported the beautiful choir, but now and again, quite wantonly as it seemed, from the west gallery where the great organ stands, a heavy
hand had struck across the church, at the serene peace of those clear voices.
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