be my choice. I must find out which rule promised best of
Atlantis, and do my poor best to prop it into full power. And here
at once there opened up another path in the maze: I had heard some
considerable talk of rebels; of another faction of Atlanteans who,
whatever their faults might be, were at any rate strong enough to
beleaguer the capital; and before coming to any final decision, it
would be as well to take their claims in balance with the rest. So
on the night of that very same day on which I had just re-planted
my foot on the old country's shores, I set out to glean for myself
tidings on the matter.

No one inside the royal pyramid gainsaid me. The banquet had
ended abruptly with the terrible scene that I have set down above
on these tablets, for with Tarca writhing on the floor, and
thrusting out the gruesome scars of his leprosy, even the most
gluttonous had little enough appetite for further gorging.
Phorenice glowered on the feasters for a while longer in silent
fury, but saying no further word; and then her eyes turned on me,
though softened somewhat.

"You may be an honest man, Deucalion," she said, at length,
"but you are a monstrous cold one. I wonder when you will thaw?"
And here she smiled. "I think it will be soon. But for now I bid
you farewell. In the morning we will take this country by the
shoulders, and see it in some new order."

She left the banqueting-hall then, Ylga following; and taking
precedence of my rank, I went out next, whilst all others stood and
made salutation. But I halted by Tarca first, and put my hand on
his unclean flesh. "You are an unfortunate man," I said, "but I can