Church, been dogging Khalid still. For if they
have failed in sending him to the Bosphorus, they will succeed in
sending him elsewhither. And observe how this is done.

After communicating with the Papal Legate in Mt. Lebanon about that
fatal Latter Day Pamphlet of Thomas Carlyle, the Adjutant-General, or
Adjutant-Bird, stalks up there one night in person and lays before the
Rt. Rev. Mgr. his devil's brief in Khalid's case. It has already been
explained that this Pamphlet was fathered on Khalid by the Jesuits.
For if they can not punish the Voice which is still pursuing them--and
in their heart of hearts they must have recognised its thunder, even
in a Translation--they will make the man smart for it who first
mentioned Carlyle in this connection.

"And besides this pernicious booklet," says the Adjutant-Bird, "the
young man's heretical opinions are notorious. He was banished from
home on that account. And now, after corrupting and deluding his
cousin, he is going to marry her despite the ban of the Church.
Something, Monseigneur, ought to be done, and quickly, to protect the
community against the poison of this wretch." And Monseigneur, nodding
his accord, orders his Secretary to write a note to the Patriarch,
enclosing the aforesaid devil's brief, and showing the propriety, nay,
the necessity of excommunicating Khalid the Baalbekian. The
Adjutant-Bird, with the Legate's letter in his pocket, skips over to
the Patriarch on the other hill-top below, and after a brief
interview--our dear good Ancient of the Maronites must willy-nilly
obey Rome--the fate of Khalid the Baalbekian is sealed.

Indeed, the upshot of these Jesuitic machinations is this: on the very
day when Khalid's mother and cousin are pleading before the parish
priest for justice, for mercy,--offering the prescribed alms,
beseeching that the ban be revoked, the marriage solemnised,--a
messenger from the Bishop of the Diocese enters, kisses his
Reverence's hand, and delivers an imposing envelope. The priest
unseals it, unfolds the heavy foolscap sheet therein, reads it with a
knitting of the brow, a shaking of the beard, and, clapping one hand
upon the other, tells the poor pleaders to go home.

"It is all finished. There is no more hope for you and your cousin."
And he shows the Patriarchal Bull, and explains.

Whereupon, Najma and Khalid's mother go out weeping, wailing, beating
their breasts and cheeks, calling upon Allah to witness their sorrow
an