in barbaric pomp, marched a number of counsellors and attendants, huge
and half-savage men who glared wonderingly at the splendour of the place
and its occupants. As the king came, Sakon rose from his chair of state
and, advancing down the hall, took him by the hand and led him to a
similar chair placed at a little distance.

Ithobal seated himself and looked around the hall. Presently his glance
fell upon Aziel, and he scowled.

"Is it common, Sakon," he asked, "that the seat of a prince should be
set higher than that of a crowned king?" And he pointed to the chair of
Aziel, which was placed a little above his own upon the dais.

The governor was about to answer when Aziel said coldly:--

"Where it was pointed out to me that I should sit, there I sat, though,
for aught I care, the king Ithobal may take my place. The grandson of
Pharaoh and of Solomon does not need to dispute for precedence with the
savage ruler of savage tribes."

Ithobal sprang to his feet and cried, grasping his sword:--

"By my father's soul, you shall answer for this, Princelet."

"You should have sworn by your mother's soul, King Ithobal," replied
Aziel quietly, "for doubtless it is the black blood in your veins that
causes you to forget your courtesy. For the rest, I answer to no man
save to my king."

"Yet there is one other who will make you answer," replied Ithobal, in
a voice thick with rage, "and here he is," and he drew his sword and
flashed it before the prince's eyes. "Or if you fear to face him, then
the wands of my slaves shall cause you to cry me pardon."

"If you desire to challenge me to combat, king Ithobal, for this purpose
only I am your servant, though the fashion of your challenging is not
that of any nation which I know."

Before Ithobal could reply, Sakon cried out in a loud voice:--

"Enough, enough! Is this a place for brawling, king Ithobal, and would
you seek to fix a quarrel upon my guest, the prince Aziel, here in my
council chamber, and to bring upon me the wrath of Israel, of Tyre, and
of Egypt? Be sure that the prince shall cross no swords with you; no,
not if I have to set him under guard to keep him safe. To your business,
king Ithobal, or I break up this assembly and send you under escort to
our gates."

Now his counsellors plucked Ithobal by the sleeve and whispered to him
some advice, which at last he seemed to take with an ill grace, for,
turning, he said, "So be it. This is my business, Sakon: Fo