The King's Talisman — page 151: what you’re looking at

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

142 THE KINGS TALISMAN. short time we must leave the girls in charge of Molech and his companions, for I have business, of which you must be a witness, elsewhere.” ‘«Where will you lead me?” ‘*T'o the dwelling of Ali Kinah.” ‘“My father! Ah, then, let us go. But Selina to be left alone—to leave her ere she wakes?” ; ‘© She will be safe here. We shall return ere long.” Noureddin went to the pavilion, and anxiously listened to see if he might not catch a sound that would indicate that its tenant was awake; but everything was still, and he turned away reluctantly and followed his tutor. Back of the altar was a movable slab, and having put this on one side, they descended a few steps, into a narrow passage which led directly through the rock to a natural excavation, where the way was only guarded by the abrupt turning of the outlet, which gave the appearance of utter inaccessibility. From here the way was short to the street, and when they had once gained it, they walked quickly but boldly on. No words were spoken on the way, but ever and anon, as Noureddin would raise his eyes to the old man’s face, he would almost start at the strange expression which rested there. There was a firmness—a sort of iron-willed deter- mination, and yet a sea of anxious, nervous thought seemed sweeping over it. His lips moved, but they were noiseless; his hands were in expressive motion, but they pointed to no definite object, and until they reached the dwelling of the corn-seller, Abdah Nazor remained in the same state of ex- cited reverie. Ali Kinah had not yet opened his stalls, and as the old man and the youth entered the house, he rushed forward and caught him in his arms. “Oh, myson, my son?” he uttered, as he pressed the youth to his bosom, ‘‘ thanks be to God, that I am once more per- mitted to look upon thy manly form.” EoOmicbooks (Ele)