The King's Talisman — page 119: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

110 THE KINGS TALISMAN. Bassa, for I trust you as one already aware of the king’s true character and designs.” ‘«< Speak on, sir,” Al-Bassa quickly answered, as a look of anxiety rested upon his features. ‘If there be a man in Petra who has a right to know all that can bear upon the affairs of the king and his civil government, then I am surely the man.” ‘‘T believe you,” said Moran, ‘‘and what I know, you © shall know. What strange power it is that the old dervise possesses, I know not, but sure it is that he has a power over the destinies of the kingdom; and though at first the thing appeared inconsistent and almost impossible, yet I believe now that he has even the king himself under his mysterious control, though as yet he has not drawn upon the reins which he holds in his hands.” ‘“Do you speak in riddles?” Al-Bassa asked, as he heard the censor through, seeming unable to take what he had heard as literal. ‘“ Not at all,” was Moran’s reply. “Then Abdah Nazor is, to all intents and purposes, him- self a king,’ thoughtfully remarked the counselor, speaking rather to himself than to the men before him. ‘‘T mistake me if he does not at least possess more kingly power and qualities,” returned the censor, ‘‘and to tell the. truth, I sometimes think that he is not the old dervise that he pretends to be.” | ‘‘Have you then suspicions?” ‘No, for I have nothing to suspect. Suspicion implies more than I feel, for the old man has never said aught concerning his station; but I think he is yet to appear in some different light—how or what, I know not.” ‘‘And do you think he will exercise the power soon?” Al-Bassa asked, in a nervous, anxious manner.” ‘*It cannot be a great while.” “God grant that it may not,” murmured the counselor; cComicbooks:co