The King's Talisman — page 115: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

106 THE KING’S TALISMAN. observation, where he waited patiently until he was left alone with the two censors and their official attendants. ‘‘Now, sir,” said Moran, with a benevolent look that - always rested upon his features when people sought his justice, at the same time casting his eye toward the spot where the last comer sat, ‘‘ you may have a hearing.” The individual thus addressed arose and deliberately moved to the door, which heshut and bolted upon the in- side. ‘‘Hold there!’ exclaimed Moran. ‘The doors of our. chamber are never shut against the people.” Half a dozen of the censors’ attending officers moved quickly from their places and started toward the door, but the mysterious stranger waved them back with his hand, and turning toward the censors, he said: ‘¢ Most noble censors, hold a moment ere you re-open the door.” As he spoke, he threw the mantle back from his head, thus revealing the aged features of the king’s counselor. ‘« Al-Bassa!” uttered both the censors in a breath, as they gazed in wonder upon the old man. ‘What has brought thee hither at this season and in this guise?” asked Moran. Al-Bassa cast his eyes around upon the attendant officers, and then said: “What I oer to say I would communicate to no ears but your own.’ The censors hesitated noe in complying with the implied wish of the old counselor, for they immediately requested their attendants to withdraw, and as soon as they were left alone with the old man, the latter said: ‘“‘T know not, sirs, to whom I shall look for assistance, unless it be yourselves, nor do I know of another in whose discretion I can trust.” “You may surely trust me,” Velorus replied, with a Eomicbooks €O