the officers of the caravan, and many other guests, were seated at a
great feast made in their honour, by Sakon, the governor of the city.
This feast was held in the large pillared hall of Sakon's house, built
beneath the northern wall of the temple fortress, and not more than a
few paces from its narrow entrance, through which in case of alarm the
inhabitants of the palace could fly for safety. All down this chamber
were placed tables, accommodating more than two hundred feasters, but
the principal guests were seated by themselves upon a raised daïs at the
head of the hall. Among them sat Sakon himself, a middle-aged man stout
in build, and thoughtful of face, his daughter Elissa, some other
noble ladies, and a score or more of the notables of the city and its
surrounding territories.

One of these strangers immediately attracted the attention of Aziel, who
was seated in the place of honour at the right of Sakon, between him and
the lady Elissa. This man was of large stature, and about forty years of
age; the magnificence of his apparel and the great gold chain set with
rough diamonds which hung about his neck showing him to be a person
of importance. His tawny complexion marked him of mixed race. This
conclusion his features did not belie, for the brow, nose, and
cheek-bones were Semitic in outline, while the full, prominent eyes,
and thick, sensuous lips could with equal certainty be attributed to
the Negroid stock. In fact, he was the son of a native African queen, or
chieftainess, and a noble Phoenician, and his rank no less than that of
absolute king and hereditary chief of a vast and undefined territory
which lay around the trading cities of the white men, whereof Zimboe
was the head and largest. Aziel noticed that this king, who was named
Ithobal, seemed angry and ill at ease, whether because he was not
satisfied with the place which had been allotted to him at the table, or
for other reasons, he could not at the time determine.