that may aid you." "Thank
you," replied the Englishman, and then as a throng of beautiful young
women came from a room on the side and gathered about the throne he
added inquisitively: "Who are they?"

"The wives and daughters of the king and the wives of the princes," was
the cautious answer, "but don't look at any one of them closely."

"I don't see how a fellow can help it; they are ravishingly beautiful,
don't you think so, Johnston?"

"Don't be a fool," snapped the American, "don't you know enough to hold
your tongue."

Tradmos smiled as if amused, and when he had shown them to seats near
the great golden throne, he said:

"Stay where you are till the king sends for you, and then go and kneel
before the throne. Do not rise till he bids you."

The captives thanked him and the captain turned away. The eyes of all
the royal party now rested on the strangers, and it was hard for them to
appear unconscious of it. A great crowd was slowly filling the room
and an orchestra in a balcony on the left of the dais began to make
delightful music on instruments the strangers had never before seen.
After an entrancing prelude a sound of singing was heard, and far up in
a grand dome, lighted like the one the captives had just admired over
the central court of the palace, they saw a bevy of maidens, robed in
white, moving about in mid-air, apparently unsupported by anything.

"How on earth is that done?" asked Thorndyke.

"I don't know," returned Johnston, speaking more freely now that the
captain had gone. "I am not surprised at anything."

"Their voices are exquisite, and that orchestra--a Boston symphony
concert couldn't be compared to it."

"There goes the sunlight again," cried Johnston, "by Jove, it is blue!"

The transition was sublime. They seemed transported to some other scene.
The great multitude, the elegantly-dressed attendants about the throne,
the courtiers, the beautiful women, all seemed to change in appearance;
on the view through the wide doors leading to the conservatory, and the
great swarming court beyond, the soft blue light fell like a filmy veil
of enchantment.

"Wonderful!" exclaimed the American.

"It is ahead of our clocks, anyway," jested Thorndyke. "Any child that
can count on its fingers could tell that this is the fifth hour of the
day."

The music grew louder; there was a harmonious blare of mighty trumpets,
the clang of gongs and cymbals, and then the music softened till it
could