, with a desperate courage, leant against a column of
the arch, and watched, with wonder, their mute and motionless society.
Nothing was said, nothing done. No one moved, no one, even by gesture,
seemed sensible of the presence of any other apparition save himself.

Suddenly there advanced from the bottom of the hall, near unto Alroy,
a procession. Pages and dancing girls, with eyes of fire and voluptuous
gestures, warriors with mighty arms, and venerable forms with ample
robes and flowing beards. And, as they passed, even with all the
activity of their gestures, they made no sound; neither did the
musicians, whereof there was a great band playing upon harps and
psalteries, and timbrels and cornets, break, in the slightest degree,
the almighty silence.

This great crowd poured on in beautiful order, the procession never
terminating, yet passing thrice round the hall, bowing to him that was
upon the throne, and ranging themselves in ranks before the Afrites.

And there came in twelve forms, bearing a great seal: the stone green,
and the engraven characters of living flame, and the characters were
those on the talisman of Jabaster, which Alroy still wore next to his
heart. And the twelve forms placed the great seal before Solomon, and
humbled themselves, and the King bowed. At the same moment Alroy was
sensible of a pang next to his heart. He instantly put his hand to the
suffering spot, and lo! the talisman crumbled into dust.

The procession ceased; a single form advanced. Recent experience alone
prevented Alroy from sinking before the spectre of Jabaster. Such was
the single form. It advanced, bearing the sceptre. It advanced, it knelt
before the throne, it offered the sceptre to the crowned and solemn
vision. And the form of Solomon extended its arm, and took the sceptre,
and instantly the mighty assembly vanished!

Alroy advanced immediately into the chamber, but all was dark and
silent. A trumpet sounded. He recognised the note of his own soldiery.
He groped his way to a curtain, and, pulling it aside, beheld the first
streak of dawn.

Once more upon his charger, once more surrounded by his legions, once
more his senses dazzled and inflamed by the waving banners and the
inspiring trumpets, once more conscious of the power still at his
command, and the mighty stake for which he was about to play, Alroy in a
great degree recovered his usual spirit and self-possession. His energy
returned with his excited pulse,