e deep-rooted conservatism of those who had nothing to
gain by the change, the fear of the merchants that civil war meant
their financial ruin, of a king jealous of his authority, and of the
supremacy of existing laws, were the forces that would oppose the
power of the goddess to carry out her reforms.

I began to accuse myself of being entirely responsible for all this
disturbance in a peaceful country. Had I never discovered Atvatabar,
Lyone might never have desired to disturb the existing order of
things, but would have remained an agonized and crowned goddess,
wedded only to Harikar, in a temple of eternal celibacy.

I knew, however, that all this was changed. I knew it by her sighs at
our first meeting in the garden of Tanje, which, to remember, again
and again made me thrill and shudder with joy.

CHAPTER XL.

MY DEPARTURE FROM THE PALACE OF TANJE.

The week of grace allowed me to leave Atvatabar had already expired
ere it had seriously occurred to me to actually leave the palace. The
commotion in the nation consequent on the publication of the manifesto
of king and goddess was so great, and the necessity of advising Lyone
in the crisis so urgent, that I did not take leave of her until the
time for my departure was exhausted. One thing that made me somewhat
careless of arousing the royal danger was that the _Polar King_ with
her terrorite guns could command Kioram in spite of the royal fleet,
although it numbered one hundred vessels. Fortunately the royal fleet
had not yet learned the use of gunpowder, their guns being discharged
with compressed air.

A despatch from Captain Wallace stated that the ship was lying in the
outer harbor, well equipped either for a long voyage or probable
hostilities.

With the view of allaying the excitement of the people, the king
published a statement that the alien commander and his retinue had
been ordered to leave forthwith. As for Lyone, the crisis had in no
wise terrified her; she felt assured, however, that "the beginning of
the end had come."

"Are you not afraid of lifelong imprisonment or death in case your
cause has no supporters?" I asked.

"They can do me no harm," she replied, "for the entire priesthood of
Egyplosis, the Art Palace of Gnaphisthasia, and thousands of
sympathizers among the people themselves, will rally to my flag when
the hour of danger comes."

"You can depend on my operations at sea," said I, "in your behalf.
Although I have but a