inquisitively at Theos, but as he was the Laureate's companion he
was saluted with nearly equal courtesy. The old critic Zabastes,
squeezing his lean, bent body from out the throng, hobbled after
Sah-luma at some little distance behind the harp-bearer, muttering
to himself as he went, and bestowing many a side-leer and
malicious grin on those among his acquaintance whom he here and
there recognized. Theos noted his behavior with a vague sense of
amusement,--the man took such evident delight in his own ill-
humor, and seemed to be so thoroughly convinced that his opinion
on all affairs was the only one worth having.

"Thou must check thy tongue today, Zabastes!" said a handsome
youth in dazzling blue and silver, who, just then detaching
himself from the crowd, laid a hand on the Critic's arm and
laughed as he spoke--"I doubt me much whether the King is in humor
for thy grim fooling! His Majesty hath been seriously discomposed
since his return from the royal tiger-hunt this morning,
notwithstanding that his unerring spear slew two goodly and most
furious animals. He is wondrous sullen,-and only the divine Sah-
luma is skilled in the art of soothing his troubled spirit.
Therefore,--if thou hast aught of crabbed or cantankerous to urge
against thy master's genius, thou hadst best reserve it for
another time, lest thy withered head roll on the market-place with
as little reverence as a dried gourd flung from a fruiterer's
stall!"

"I thank thee for thy warning, young jackanapes!" retorted
Zabastes, pausing in his walk and leaning on his staff while he
peered with his small, black, bad-tempered eyes at the speaker-
"Thou art methinks somewhat over well-informed for a little