atabar soil
would prevent further disgrace of their faith and country, he would
prefer to issue a decree of expulsion, rather than a decree for the
arrest of both commander and goddess. To reduce the possible calamity
now overhanging the nation to the least possible proportions, it would
be necessary to act at once, rather than to await the development of
more complete evidence of affection between the guilty parties."

Admiral Jolar deprecated the violent measures advocated by Koshnili,
and supported the idea of the king, to quietly expel the strangers. He
said that if the decree of expulsion were intrusted to him, he would
see that it was carried into effect without delay. The council could
rely on the royal fleet doing its duty.

Koshnili was angry at his idea of immediate arrest not being acted
upon. "Suppose these strangers," he said, "refuse to leave, and being
warned by your royal mandate so fortify themselves by stirring up an
insurrection in favor of her holiness, that might possibly defeat the
royal arms, and, in the end, we ourselves be sacrificed by our present
timid vacillation. The crisis is a serious one and demands a desperate
remedy."

"The Governor Ladalmir," said Hushnoly, "rebutted the arguments of
Koshnili. He pointed out that the laws of hospitality demanded that
the strangers should receive consideration at the hands of the king,
even if guilty. They might receive fair warning to depart, after
which, if the commander prove contumacious, more stringent measures
could be taken. Should the commander, in defiance of the royal
mandate, endeavor to consolidate his affection for her holiness, doing
further sacrilege to our faith, ecclesiastical law has the remedy of
death for those who would dare dethrone our faith, and lead our
beloved goddess to take the irrevocable step of abandonment of her
supreme office. After considerable discussion, it was decided to act
on the suggestion of his majesty the king, that without bringing the
matter before the Borodemy, a decree of expulsion be handed Admiral
Jolar, for execution on the parties to be expelled from the kingdom.
The decree is already in the hands of Admiral Jolar for delivery to
your excellency."

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

LYONE'S MANIFESTO TO KING AND PEOPLE.

"Might I ask your holiness," said the high priest, "if you will really
take so determined a step as that indicated by the action of the royal
council? The thought of such a thing strikes