The King's Talisman — page 37: what you’re looking at

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

28 THE KINGS TALISMAN. plan of procedure—circumstances alone, as they might oc- cur, could guide him. CHAPTER IY. THE FAIR SELINA AND HER FATHER. The sun had not yet peeped over the rocky environs of Petra, when Noureddin was aroused from a deep reverie in- to which he had fallen, by the unceremonious entrance of two eunuchs, who informed him that the king awaited his presence. ‘The youth had already performed his morning ablutions, and he immediately followed the messenger from _ the apartment. The king received him in the same room as before, and as the youth entered, there was a tr oubled look upon the monarch’s brow. “You are up betimes,” remarked Modad, as the young man made his obeisance. ‘Little sleep suffices‘me, your majesty,” replied Noured- din. he king drew his hand nervously across his brow, as the -youth’s voice fell upon his ear, and with an anxious look, he gazed into the young man’s features. Noureddin noticed his monarch’s manner, and though he was surprised at it, yet he betrayed not his feelings, but with a firm, steady gaze he awaited his instructions. Lhe eunuchs were dismissed, and with the exception of the two mutes, the king and his subject were left alone. ‘“Do you know the intricacies of the mountain path to the eastward?” asked the king. «* Yes,” returned Noureddin. ‘< Then your services will be invaluable in the business I have in hand.” | Modad then went on and explained to the young man the duty that was required of him. ‘The account was the same in its aspects as that of the Egyptian eunuch, but from the Eomicbooks (e{o)