The King's Talisman — page 128: what you’re looking at

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

THE KINGS TALISMAN, 119 to hear the censors dispense justice. There must have been others there beside himself?” ‘No, sire,” returned Ahab, instinctively drawing back a step—for he saw that the king had entertained a hope which his answer would dash to the ground. ‘‘ Al-Bassa was alone with the censors.” ‘* How know you that, sirrah?” ‘‘ Because the doors were OCR EDs fe “« Didst try them?” ‘“No, sire; but a number of the citizens gathered upon the pavement in front of the building, who could not gain admittance until Al-Bassa came out.” ‘¢ And he came out alone?” “‘[ think he did. We were on the other side of thee _bridge when he came forth, and started immediately on, ~ but yet I think he was alone.” “Think! Could you not swear to it?” ‘< Yes, sire.” During the space of a minute the monarch walked to and froin his apartment, with his hands clutched tightly, and his eyes bent upon the carpet. A train of fierce thoughts seemed to be whirling through his brain, while a consuming fire raged in his bosom. At length he stopped, and turn- ing quickly upon Ahab, he said, with startling energy: ‘You say the doors of the censors’ temple were locked ?” ‘© Yes, sire,” returned the man, trembling at the king’s manner. ‘‘ And that they were thus locked for a full hour?” fT did... ‘‘ And that my minister—Al-Bassa—held secret converse with them?” ‘‘T think he did.” | “Think! sirrahP Can you not swear to what your own eyes have seen?’ “Yes, your majesty—I can swear to that,” GComicbooks (Efe)