'I have seen him gay on the eve of battle, and lively though calm, with
weightier matters than now oppress him. His brow was clouded, but not,
me-thinks, with _thought_; one might rather say with _temper_. Mark you,
how he rated Jabaster?'

'Roundly! The stern priest writhed under it; and as he signed the
ordinance, shivered his reed in rage. I never saw a man more pale.'

'Or more silent. He looked like an embodied storm. I tell you what,
Asriel, that stern priest loves not us.'

'Have you just discovered that secret, Ithamar? We are not of his
school. Nor, in good faith, is our ruler. I am glad to see the king is
so staunch about Abidan. Were he in council he would support Jabaster.'

'Oh! his mere tool. What think you of Scherirah?'

'I would not trust him. As long as there is fighting, he will meddle
with nothing else; but, mark my words, Ithamar: in quiet times he will
support the priest.'

'Medad will have a place in council. He is with us.'

'Heart and soul. I would your brother were here, Asriel: he alone could
balance Jabaster. Alroy loves your brother like himself. Is it true that
he marries the Lady Miriam?'

'So the king wishes. 'Twill be a fine match for Abner.'

'The world is all before us. I wonder who will be viceroy of Syria.'

'When we conquer it. Not Scherirah. Mark my words, Ithamar: he never
will have a government. You or I perchance. For my own part, I would
rather remain as I am.'

'Yours is a good post; the best.'

'With the command of the city. It should go with the guard.'

'Well, then, help me in getting Syria, and you can ask for my command.'

'Agreed. Jabaster will have it that, in a Hebrew monarchy, the chief
priest is in fact the grand vizir.'

'Alroy will be his own minister.'

'I am not so sure of that. He may choose to command the Syrian
expedition in person; he must leave some head at Bagdad. Jabaster is no
general.'

'Oh! none at all. Alroy will be glad to leave him at home. The Sultan of
Roum may not be always so merciful.'

'Hah! hah! that was an escape!'

'By heavens! I thought it was all over. You made a fine charge.'

'I shall never forget it. I nearly ran over Jabaster.'

'Would that you had!'

It is the tender twilight hour when maidens in their lonely bower sigh
softer than the eve! The languid rose her head upraises, and listens to
the nightingale, while his wild and thrilling praises from his trembling
bosom gush: the languid rose her head upra