The King's Talisman — page 116: what you’re looking at

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

THE KINGS TALISMAN. 107 puzzed look; ‘‘but methinks it must be strange business that should have brought thee hither.” ‘« It is indeed strange,” Al-Bassa answered, while a shud- der passed through his frame. ‘‘ It is no more nor less than to ask of you your protection against the king.” ‘Protection against the king?” iterated the censors, half starting from their seats. “Yes, noble censors. Within the last twenty-four hours—a little later than this on yesterday night—Modad attempted -my life.” ‘‘Didst hear that, Velorus?” exclaimed Moran, turning to his colleague. ‘*‘ But tell us, Al-Bassa,” he continued, ‘what has caused this villainy on the king’s part?” «<T may not now tell thee all,” replied the old counselor, after a few moments’ hesitation; but this much you may know. I refused to do an act of his command which was repugnant and wicked, and for that he would have taken my life.” | ‘‘But he did not attempt this in his palace?” “< Yes. «“Then how did you escape?”’ ‘< Four of his eunuchs were conveying me to the Augus- tan dungeons, when by a suddenly conceived maneuver I broke from them and dashed through the window of the divan. The fall was greater than I thought, and for some time I was entirely senseless) Whether the enunuchs fol- lewed me out of the window I know not, but when I came to myself, I was in my own dwelling, and a number of my servants were standing by me. It seemed that one of the night soldiers was passing at the time I leaped forth, and instantly recognizing me, he conveyed me to my dwelling. But though I am safe for the present, yet that safety may not be long, for the king has reason to fear me.” ‘¢So he has reason to fear others,” replied Moran, as the GEomileboo <S (Efe)