net tinkled and ticked like so many angry sparrows.

"Madame," said the prince, "there are those among his Majesty's
subjects who would willingly lay down their lives for him. But he is
a stranger to us--come of an alien race; and the double
disappearance is a most tragic occurrence, which the burden of the
tax has emphasized. To be frank, were his Majesty to reappear in
Yaque without the treasure having been found--"

"Oh!" breathed Mrs. Hastings, "they would kill him!"

The prince shuddered and set his white teeth in his nether lip.

"The gods forbid," he said. "Such primeval punishment is as unknown
among us as is war itself. How little you know my people; how
pitifully your instincts have become--forgive me--corrupted by
living in this barbarous age of yours, fumbling as you do at
civilization. With us death is a sacred rite, the highest tribute
and the last sacrifice to the Absolute. Our dying are carried to the
Temple of the Worshipers of Distance, and are there consecrated.
The limit of our punishment would be aerial exposure--"

"You mean?" cried St. George.

"I mean that in extreme cases we have, with due rite and ceremonial,
given a victim to an airship, without ballast or rudder, and
abundantly provisioned. Then with solemn ritual we have set him
adrift--an offering to the great spirits of space--so that he may
come to know. This," the prince paused in emotion, "this is the
worst that could befall your father."

"How horrible!" cried Olivia. "Oh, how horrible."

"Oh," Mrs. Hastings moaned, "he was born to it. He was born to it.
When he was six he tied kites to his arms and jumped out the window
of the cupola and broke his collar bone--oh, Otho,--oh Heaven,--and
I made him eat oatmeal gruel three times a day when he was getting
well."

"Prince Tabnit," said St. George, "I beg you not to jest with us.
Have consideration for the two to whom this man is dear."

"I am speaking truth to you," said the prince earnestly. "I do not
wish to alarm these ladies, but I am bound in honour to tell you
what I know."

"Ah then," said St. George, his narrowed eyes meeting those of the
prince, "since the taking of life is unknown to you in Yaque, will
you explain how it was that your servant adopted such unerring
means to take the life of Miss Holland? And why?"

"My servant," said the prince readily, "belongs to the lahnas or
former serfs of the island. Upon her people, now the owners of rich
lands, the tax wil