n turned and walked slowly down the court of
judgment and through its gates, nor did any so much as lift a finger to
stay him, for now about this old man there seemed to be a majesty which
made them strengthless.

"Bring that wizard back and kill him here," shouted Janees presently,
as the spell passed off them, and like hounds from a leash they sprang
forward to do the bidding of the King.

But without the walls they could not find him. A woman had seen him
here, a child had seen him there, some slaves had watched him pass
yonder, and ran away because they noted that he had no shadow. At
length, after many a false turn, they tracked him to the southern gate,
and there the guard said that just such a beggar-man had passed through
as they were about to close the gate, vanishing into the sandstorm which
blew without. They followed, but so thickly blew that sand that they
lost each other in their search, and but just before sundown returned
to the palace singly, where in his rage the king commanded them to be
beaten with rods upon their feet.

Now the darkness came, and at the appointed hour Janees, hardening his
heart, went up into the chamber where dwelt Tua and Asti, leaving his
guard of eunuchs at the door. The lamps were lit within that chamber,
and the window-places closed, but without the desert wind howled loudly,
and the air was blind with sand. On the farther side of the marble
basin, as once before, Tua and Asti stood awaiting him.

"Lady," he said, "it is the appointed hour, and I seek your answer."

"King," replied Tua, "hear me, and for your own sake--not for mine. I
am more than I seem. I have friends in the earth and air, did not one of
them visit you to-day in yonder court? Put away this madness and let me
be, for I wish you good, not evil, but if you so much as lay a finger
on me, then I think that evil draws near, or at the best I die by my own
hand."

"Lady," replied Janees in a cold voice, "have done with threats; I await
your answer."

"King," said Tua, "for the last time I plead with you. You think that I
lie to save myself, but it is not so. I would save you. Look now," and
she threw back her veil and opened the wrappings about her throat. "Look
at that which is stamped upon my breast, and think--is it well to offer
violence to a woman who bears this holy seal?"

"I have heard of such a one," said Janees hoarsely, for the sight of
her beauty maddened him. "They say that she was born in Theb