rned to his quest for a certain recounting.

"Prince Tabnit," he said, "the High Council and the people of Yaque
are impatient for your answer to this woman's words."

"I rejoice with them and with your Majesty," replied Prince Tabnit
softly, "that the treasure is safe. My own explanation is far less
simple. If what this woman says is true, yet it is true in such wise
as, strive as I may, I can not speak; nor, strive as you may, can
you fathom. Therefore I say that the claim which she has made is
idle, and not within my power to answer."

At this St. George bounded to his feet. Amory looked up at him in
terror, and Little Cawthorne and Bennietod went a step or two after
him as he sprang forward, and Rollo's lean shadowed face, obvious as
his way of speech, was wrinkled in terrified appeal.

"An idle claim!" St. George thundered as he strode before the dais.
"Is this woman's story and mine an idle claim, and one not within
your power to answer? Then I will tell you how to answer, Prince
Tabnit. I challenge you now, in the presence of your people--taste
this!"

Upon the carven arm of Prince Tabnit's throne St. George set
something that he had taken from his pocket. It was the vase of
rock-crystal from which, the night before in the room of the tombs,
the king had drunk.

What followed was the last thing that St. George had expected. It
was as if his defiance had unlocked flood-gates. In an instant the
vast assembly was in motion. With a sound of garments that was like
far wind they were upon their feet and pressing toward the throne.
With all the passion of their "Yes! Yes! Yes!" in response to
Olivia's appeal they came, resistlessly demanding the answer to some
dreadful question long shrouded in their hearts. Their armour was
their silence; they made no sound save that ominous sweep of their
robes and the conspiracy of their sandaled feet upon the tiles.

St. George did not turn. Indeed, it did not once cross his mind that
their hostility could possibly be toward him. Besides, his look was
fixed upon the prince's face, and what he read there was enough. The
peers, the High Council and those nearest the throne wavered and
swerved from the man, leaving him to face what was to come.

Whatever was to come he would have met nobly. He was of those
infrequent folk of some upper air who exhibit a certain purity even
in error, or in worse. He stood with his exquisite pale face
uplifted, his white hair in a glory about i