he, Sir?'

'Self-strangled. His mighty heart could not endure disgrace, and thus he
ended all his glorious deeds.'

'A great man!'

'We shall not soon see his match. The Queen had gained his pardon, and
herself flew to the Armoury to bear the news; alas! too late.'

'These are strange times. Jabaster dead!'

'A very great event.'

'Who will be High Priest?'

'I doubt if the appointment will be filled up.'

'Sup you with the Lord Ithamar to-night?'

'I do.'

'I also. We'll go together. The Queen had gained his pardon. Hum! 'tis
strange.'

'Passing so. They say Abidan has escaped?'

'I hear it. Shall we meet Medad to-night?'

''Tis likely.'

CHAPTER X.

_The Fall of Alroy_

SHE comes not yet! her cheerful form, not yet it sparkles in our
mournful sky. She comes not yet! the shadowy stars seem sad and
lustreless without their Queen. She comes not yet!'

'_WE ARE THE WATCHERS OF THE MOON,[78] AND LIVE IN LONELINESS TO HERALD
LIGHT._'

'She comes not yet! her sacred form, not yet it summons to our holy
feast. She comes not yet! our brethren far wait mute and motionless the
saintly beam. She comes not yet!'

'_WE ARE THE WATCHERS OF THE MOON, AND LIVE IN LONELINESS TO HERALD
LIGHT_.'

'She comes, she comes! her beauteous form sails with soft splendour in
the glittering air. She comes, she comes! The beacons fire, and tell the
nation that the month begins! She comes, she comes!'

'_WE ARE THE WATCHERS OF THE MOON, TO TELL THE NATION THAT THE MONTH
BEGINS_.'

Instantly the holy watchers fired the beacons on the mountain top, and
anon a thousand flames blazed round the land. From Caucasus to Lebanon,
on every peak a crown of light.

'Sire! a Tatar has arrived from Hamadan, who will see none but thyself.
I have told him your Highness was engaged, and sent him to the Lord
Honain; but all denial is lost upon him. And as I thought perhaps the
Lady Miriam----'

'From Hamadan? You did well, Pharez. Admit him.'

The Tatar entered.

'Well, Sir; good news, I hope!'

'Sire, pardon me, the worst. I come from the Lord Abner, with orders to
see the Caliph, and none else.'

'Well, Sir, you see the Caliph. Your mission? What of the Viceroy?'

'Sire, he bade me tell thee, that, the moment the beacon that announced
the Feast of the New Moon was fired on Caucasus, the dreaded monarch of
Karasme, the great Alp Arslan, entered thy kingdom, and now overruns all
Persia.'

'Hah! and Abner?'

'I