The King's Talisman — page 32: what you’re looking at

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

THE KING’ S TALISMAN. 23 upon the youth, when a light grating was heard, like the unbolting of a door beyond, and in a moment more the eunuch who had betrayed such evident desire to remain be- hind his companions, re-entered the apartment. As he closed the door behind him, he gazed cautiously around, and then laying his finger upon his lips, he approached the bed and sat down upon it, motioning for Noureddin to do the same. ‘< Be quiet,” said the eunuch, in a low, trembling tone, as the young man seated himself upon the edge of the bed, ‘for if I were to be found here, my head would be food for the eagles ere another sun. Be assured that I am thy friend.” ‘My friend!” repeated Noureddin, in surprise. ‘* And have I enemies?” ‘‘] know not that you have enemies,” returned the eunuch, with a peculiar emphasis. ‘‘'The lamb that we offer at the sacrifice hasno enemies, and yet you well know its fate.” A shudder ran through the young man’s frame, but where- fore he knew not. ‘The eunuch continued: ‘‘T know not that the—the— You will be secret?” ‘*Go on,” answered Noureddin, somewhat surprised at the hesitation and strange manner of the visitor. ‘‘If you are my friend, you need never fear that I shall betray you, and if you are aught else than a friend you had better leave me.” ‘¢ You have more friends in Petra than you may imagine,” returned the eunuch, without seeming to notice the manner of his companion. ‘‘I, among others, have promised to Abdah Nazor that I would watch over your interests. Why he asked the duty of me I know not, but I gave him my promise, and I will fulfill it.” ‘¢Go on, then, and trust me as you would your own soul,” returned the youth, as he heard the name of his Gomicbooks (E(0)