at council held by the Child of Kings on the day
after to-morrow which we must attend, for it has only been postponed
until I was well enough. At this council that rogue Shadrach is to be
put upon his trial, and will, I believe, be condemned to death. Also we
are formally to return Sheba's ring which Maqueda lent to you to be used
in proof of her story. Well, we may learn something then, or at any rate
must make up our minds to definite action. And now I am to have my first
ride, am I not? Come on, Pharaoh," he added to the dog, which had stuck
at his bedside all through his illness so closely that it was difficult
to entice him away even to eat; "we are going for a ride, Pharaoh; do
you hear that, you faithful beast?"

CHAPTER IX

THE SWEARING OF THE OATH

Two or three days after this conversation, I forget exactly which it
was, Maqueda held her council in the great hall of the palace. When we
entered the place in charge of a guard, as though we were prisoners, we
found some hundreds of Abati gathered there who were seated in orderly
rows upon benches. At the farther end, in an apse-shaped space, sat the
Child of Kings herself on a gilded or perhaps a golden chair of which
the arms terminated in lions' heads. She was dressed in a robe of
glittering silver, and wore a ceremonial veil embroidered with stars,
also of silver, and above it, set upon her dark hair, a little circlet
of gold, in which shone a single gem that looked like a ruby. Thus
attired, although her stature is small, her appearance was very
dignified and beautiful, especially as the gossamer veil added mystery
to her face.

Behind the throne stood soldiers armed with spears and swords, and at
its sides and in front of it were gathered her court to the number of a
hundred or more, including her waiting-ladies, who in two companies were
arranged to the right and left. Each member of this court was gorgeously
dressed according to his profession.

There were the generals and captains with Prince Joshua at the head of
them in their Norman-like chain armour. There were judges in black robes
and priests in gorgeous garments; there were territorial lords, of
whose attire I remember only that they wore high boots, and men who were
called Market-masters, whose business it was to regulate the rate of
exchange of products, and with them the representatives of other trades.

In short, here was collected all the aristocracy of the little
population of the to