t constantly
antagonizes nature is immoral. Here refined souls," I continued, "seek
the cloister, not for peace, but for ecstatic anguish. They love and
weep, and thus agitated they grow at once weak and violent, and can
never accommodate themselves to the serious purposes of life. Thus
sacrificed on the altar of a false god, weary of a life of barren
blessedness, you will discover, if you but seriously inquire into it,
that this palace is purely a prison for thousands of noble souls."

As I spoke, Hushnoly clasped his head with his hands and groaned.
"With the downfall of Egyplosis," he murmured, "farewell delights,
farewell tendernesses, farewell mystical, chivalrous love!"

"Do not be so dejected," said Lyone; "your imagination gives you but a
capricious view of the future, which will be even nobler than the
past."

The high priest could hear no more, and left us seized with affright
as to the future, and mourning the anticipated downfall of Egyplosis.

Lyone, far from exhibiting fear, grew enthusiastic over our projected
_coup d'etat_, that would certainly, if successful, create an organic
change in the constitution of the kingdom.

We discussed the situation at length, and determined to leave
Egyplosis for Calnogor forthwith.

I could in some measure appreciate the struggle undergone by Lyone
necessary to sever her forever from so ineffable a retreat. But
passion was stronger than environment, and it was duly announced that
the supreme goddess and the commander of the _Polar King_ and their
immediate followers would leave for Calnogor forthwith.

Our departure from Egyplosis was attended with impressive ceremonies,
our journey to Calnogor being made in the aerial ship of the goddess.

On our arrival at Tanje we discovered that the king and government had
held their council unknown to the people. We did not think it
expedient either, just then, to make public the determination of the
goddess. I ordered my officers and sailors to Kioram forthwith to take
command of the _Polar King_. My instructions to Captain Wallace were
to have the ship fully supplied with stores, and remove her from the
basin where she lay into the outer harbor of Kioram, and there await
further orders. After a considerable period of inactivity the ship's
company were nothing loath to get on board again with the prospect of
another voyage. I confided to the officers the possibility of our
being engaged in hostile operations, and ordered t