The King's Talisman — page 129: what you’re looking at

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

120 THE KINGS TALISMAN. «’Tis well,” muttered Modad to himself, as he started again on his pacing walk, but with more calmness than before. ‘‘I am well pleased that this thing has hap- pened, for I like not the power which these same censors are assuming, though there was no need that Al-Bassa should have escaped.” As the king gave utterance to this last sentence, the ~ shadow deepened upon his brow, but a ray of demoniac hope soon followed it, and turning to Ahab, he said: ‘Dost know where to find Nabal, the centurion?” ‘<I know where his quarters are, sire, but I think he has retired to his rest ere this.” “‘T care not for that. ‘There can be no rest for the soldier while the city is in danger. Go you to the centurion’s house and bid him hasten hither with all speed.” As Modad turned, after his message had gone, he met the * keen, penetrating glance of one of his mutes. It was noth- ing strange that the poor fellow, who was governed only by his sight, should sometimes look with more than ordinary sharpness, but still the king was startled by that look, and had an asp at that moment been drawing its slimy form over his sandaled feet, he would not have stopped more sud- denly in his way than he did before the glance of his mute. A moment he looked upon the speechless slave with asearch- ing eye, and then, as his hands came significantly together, he motioned for the mutes to remain where they were, and left the apartment. For fifteen minutes the mutes were thus left alone, and though at times a sort of inquisitive glance would pass be- tween them, yet the same look of stoical indifference that generally characterized their deportment still rested upon _ their features, and save the gleaming of their brilliant eves, a marble statue might have exhibited almost as much life as they did. At length the heavy drapery that hung directly behind Eomirchbooks.co