genius, . . and but for the spur of this never-satiated passion, who
knows whether I should sing so well!"

He was silent for a little space--then he resumed in a more
ordinary tone:

"The wretched Nir-jalis, whose fate thou dost so persistently
deplore, deserved his end for his presumption, ... didst thou not
hear his insolent insinuation concerning the King?"

"I heard it--yes!" replied Theos--"And I saw no harm in the manner
of his utterance."

"No harm!" exclaimed Sah-luma excitedly--"No harm! Nay, but I
forget! ... thou art a stranger in Al-Kyris, and therefore thou
art ignorant of the last words spoken by the Sacred Oracle some
hundred years or more ago. They are these:

"'When the High Priestess
Is the King's mistress
Then fall Al-Kyris!'

'Tis absolute doggerel, and senseless withal,--nevertheless, it
has caused the enactment of a Law, which is to the effect that the
reigning monarch of Al-Kyris shall never, under any sort of
pretext, confer with the High Priestess of the Temple on any
business whatsoever,--and that, furthermore, he shall never be
permitted to look upon her face except at times of public service
and state ceremonials. Now dost thou not at once perceive how vile
were the suggestions of Nir-jalis, . . and also how foolish was thy