to restore her to her family.'

Tancred looked round and caught the glance of the Queen of the Ansarey,
mortified, yet full of affection.

'It seems to me,' he said, 'that it is time for me to terminate a visit
that has already occasioned you, royal lady, too much vexation.'

Astarte burst into tears.

'Let me go,' she said, 'you want a throne; this is a rude one, yet
accept it. You require warriors, the Ansarey are invincible. My castle
is not like those palaces of Antioch of which we have often talked, and
which were worthy of you, but Gindarics is impregnable, and will serve
you for your headquarters until you conquer that world which you are
born to command.'

'I have been the unconscious agent in petty machinations,' said Tancred.
'I must return to the desert to recover the purity of my mind. It is
Arabia alone that can regenerate the world.'

At this moment Cypros, who was standing apart, waved her scarf, and
exclaimed, 'Royal lady, I perceive in the distance the ever-faithful
messenger;' whereupon Astarte looked up, and, as yet invisible to the
inexperienced glance of Tancred, recognised what was an infinitely small
dusky speck, each moment becoming more apparent, until at length a bird
was observed by all of them winging its way towards the Queen.

'Is it the ever-faithful Karaguus,' said Astarte; 'or is it Ruby-lips
that ever brings good news?'

'It is Karaguus,' said Cypros, as the bird drew nearer and nearer; 'but
it is not Karaguus of Damascus. By the ring on its neck, it is Karaguus
of Aleppo.'

The pigeon now was only a few yards above the head of the Queen.
Fatigued, but with an eye full of resolution, it fluttered for a moment,
and then fell upon her bosom. Cypros advanced and lifted its weary wing,
and untied the cartel which it bore, brief words, but full of meaning,
and a terrible interest.

'The Pasha, at the head of five thousand regular troops, leaves Haleb
to-morrow to invade our land.'

'Go,' said Astarte to Tancred; 'to remain here is now dangerous. Thanks
to the faithful messenger, you have time to escape with ease from that
land which you scorned to rule, and which loved you too well.'

'I cannot leave it in the hour of peril,' said Tancred. 'This invasion
of the Ottomans may lead to results of which none dream. I will meet
them at the head of your warriors!'

CHAPTER LVIII.

_Three Letters of Cabala_

IS THERE any news?' asked Adam Besso of Issachar, the son of