mmonly uncomfortable.
I thought that another outburst was about to follow, but wonderful
are the ways of woman; she said not a word about Sorais and his
supposed inconstancy, greeting him with a friendly nod, and stating
simply that she required his advice upon high matters. All the
same there was a look in her eye, and a sort of suppressed energy
in her manner towards him, that makes me think that she had not
forgotten the affair, but was keeping it for a private occasion.

Just after Curtis arrived the officer returned, and reported
that Sorais was _gone_. The bird had flown to the Temple, stating
that she was going, as was sometimes the custom among Zu-Vendi
ladies of rank, to spend the night in meditation before the altar.
We looked at each other significantly. The blow had fallen
very soon.

Then we set to work.

Generals who could be trusted were summoned from their quarters,
and as much of the State affairs as was thought desirable was
told to each, strict injunctions being given to them to get all
their available force together. The same was done with such
of the more powerful lords as Nyleptha knew she could rely on,
several of whom left that very day for distant parts of the country
to gather up their tribesmen and retainers. Sealed orders were
dispatched to the rulers of far-off cities, and some twenty messengers
were sent off before nightfall with instructions to ride early
and late till they reached the distant chiefs to whom their letters
were addressed: also many spies were set to work. All the afternoon
and evening we laboured, assisted by some confidential scribes,
Nyleptha showing an energy and resource of mind that astonished
me, and it was eight o'clock before we got back to our quarters.
Here we heard from Alphonse, who was deeply aggrieved because
our non-return had spoilt his dinner (for he had turned cook
again now), that Good had come back from his hawking and gone
on duty. As instructions had already been given to the officer
of the outer guard to double the sentries at the gate, and as
we had no reason to fear any immediate danger, we did not think
it worth while to hunt him up and tell him anything of what had
passed, which at best was, under the peculiar circumstances of
the case, one of those tasks that one prefers to postpone, so
after swallowing our food we turned in to get some much-needed
rest. Before we did so, however, it occurred to Curtis to tell
old Umslopogaas to kee