built of fretted stone and
having a carved and painted roof. Along one side of this hall,
that was lit with cressets, were a number of round-headed open
arches supported by elegant white columns, and beyond these a
marble terrace with flights of steps which led to the gardens
beneath. On the floor of this hall, each seated upon his cushion
beside low tables inlaid with pearl sat the guests, a hundred or
more, all dressed in white robes on which the red dagger was
blazoned, and all as silent as though they were asleep.

When the brethren reached the place the women left them, and
servants with gold chains round their necks escorted them to a
dais in the middle of the hall where were many cushions, as yet
unoccupied, arranged in a semicircle, of which the centre was a
divan higher and more gorgeous than the rest.

Here places were pointed out to them opposite the divan, and they
took their stand by them. They had not long to wait, for
presently there was a sound of music, and, heralded by troops of
singing women, the lord Sinan approached, walking slowly down the
length of the great hall. It was a strange procession, for after
the women came the aged, white robed dais, then the lord
Al-je-bal himself, clad now in his blood-red, festal robe, and
wearing jewels on his turban.

Around him marched four slaves, black as ebony, each of whom held
a flaming torch on high, while behind followed the two gigantic
guards who had stood sentry over him when he sat under the canopy
of justice. As he advanced down the hall every man in it rose
and prostrated himself, and so remained until their lord was
seated, save only the two brethren, who stood erect like the
survivors among the slain of a battle. Settling himself among the
cushions at one end of the divan, he waved his hand, whereon the
feasters, and with them Godwin and Wulf, sat themselves down.

Now there was a pause, while Sinan glanced along the hall
impatiently. Soon the brethren saw why, since at the end opposite
to that by which he had entered appeared more singing women, and
after them, also escorted by four black torch-bearers, only these
were women, walked Rosamund and, behind her, Masouda.

Rosamund it was without doubt, but Rosamund transformed, for now
she seemed an Eastern queen. Round her head was a coronet of gems
from which hung a veil, but not so as to hide her face. Jewelled,
too, were her heavy plaits of hair, jewelled the rose-silk
garments that she wor