these narrow columns, to write his carping diatribes against me,--
me, the King's Laureate! ... As I live, his cumbersome diction
hath caused me infinite mirth, and I have laughed at his crabbed
and feeble wit till my sides have ached most potently! Now get
thee gone, fellow!--thou and thy news!"--and he nodded a good-
humored dismissal to the deferential Zibya, who with his woolly
gray head very much on one side stood listening gravely and
approvingly to all that was said,--" Yet stay! ... has gossip
whispered thee the name of the poor virgin self-destined for this
evening's sacrifice?"

"No, my lord"--responded Zibya promptly--"'Tis veiled in deeper
mystery than usual. I have inquired of many, but in vain,--and
even the Chief Flamen of the Outside Court of the Temple, always
drunk and garrulous as he is, can tell me naught of the holy
victim's title or parentage. "Tis a passing fair wench!' said he,
with a chuckle.. 'That is all I know concerning her ... a passing
fair wench!' Ah!" and Zibya rolled up the whites of his eyes and
sighed in a comically contemplative manner.. "If ever a Flamen
deserved expulsion from his office, it is surely yon ancient,
crafty, carnal-minded soul! ... so keen a glance for a woman's
beauty is not a needful qualification for a servant of the Snake
Divine! Methinks we have fallen upon evil days! ... maybe the
crazed Prophet is right after all, and things are coming to an
end!"

"Like thy discourse, I hope, Zibya!" observed Sah-luma, yawning
and flinging himself lazily back on his velvet couch,--"Get hence,
and serve thy customers with their cheap news, . . depend upon it,
some of them are cursing thee mightily for thy delay! And if thou