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A luminous crystal sphere hovers on a tripod in the dim, moon‑lit drawing‑room of Countess Athalie, casting an eerie silver glow that seems to defy any ordinary source of light. The evening gathers a eclectic mix of guests—some who have just dined, others who drift back from the bustling city for coffee, cigarettes, and whispered conversation—while a young woman, draped in silk cushions, idly toys with a jade idol, her gaze fixed on some distant, unknowable point beyond the balcony. The city outside throbs with the neon pulse of Sixth Avenue and the far‑off shimmer of Broadway, a stark contrast to the quiet, almost ritualistic atmosphere inside.

Through this surreal tableau, the story invites listeners into a world where science and mysticism intertwine, hinting at an obscure discipline—crystal gazing—that promises hidden laws linking objects as disparate as playing cards and police records. As the Countess watches, the mysterious sphere becomes a focal point for curiosity, setting the stage for a subtle investigation that teeters between wonder and the unknown.