Part 40 (1/2)

”Hope I haven't kept you waiting,” said Merolchazzar, apologetically.

He, too, was conscious of a strange, wild exhilaration. Truly was this maiden, as his Chamberlain had said, noticeably easy on the eyes. Her beauty was as water in the desert, as fire on a frosty night, as diamonds, rubies, pearls, sapphires, and amethysts.

”Oh, no!” said the princess, ”I've been enjoying myself. How pa.s.sing beautiful are thy gardens, O King!”

”My gardens may be pa.s.sing beautiful,” said Merolchazzar, earnestly, ”but they aren't half so pa.s.sing beautiful as thy eyes. I have dreamed of thee by night and by day, and I will tell the world I was nowhere near it! My sluggish fancy came not within a hundred and fifty-seven miles of the reality. Now let the sun dim his face and the moon hide herself abashed. Now let the flowers bend their heads and the gazelle of the mountains confess itself a cripple. Princess, your slave!”

And King Merolchazzar, with that easy grace so characteristic of Royalty, took her hand in his and kissed it.

As he did so, he gave a start of surprise.

”By Hec!” he exclaimed. ”What hast thou been doing to thyself? Thy hand is all over little rough places inside. Has some malignant wizard laid a spell upon thee, or what is it?”

The Princess blushed.

”If I make that clear to thee,” she said, ”I shall also make clear why it was that I sent thee no message all this long while. My time was so occupied, verily I did not seem to have a moment. The fact is, these sorenesses are due to a strange, new religion to which I and my subjects have but recently become converted. And O that I might make thee also of the true faith! 'Tis a wondrous tale, my lord. Some two moons back there was brought to my Court by wandering pirates a captive of an uncouth race who dwell in the north. And this man has taught us----”

King Merolchazzar uttered a loud cry.

”By Tom, the son of Morris! Can this truly be so? What is thy handicap?”

The Princess stared at him, wide-eyed.

”Truly this is a miracle! Art thou also a wors.h.i.+pper of the great Gowf?”

”Am I!” cried the King. ”Am I!” He broke off. ”Listen!”

From the minstrels' room high up in the palace there came the sound of singing. The minstrels were practising a new paean of praise--words by the Grand Vizier, music by the High Priest of Hec--which they were to render at the next full moon at the banquet of the wors.h.i.+ppers of Gowf.

The words came clear and distinct through the still air:

_”Oh, praises let us utter To our most glorious King!