The King's Talisman — page 36: what you’re looking at

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

THE KINGS TALISMAN. 27 I am certain; you will be safe with your retinue until after the message is delivered at Khaibar; but there is reason to believe that on the way home some of the slaves are instructed to murder you. You now know all, and you can govern yourself as seems best to you. But I advise you to accept the trust from the king without hesitation.” ‘<Do you accompany the embassy?” asked Noureddin. ‘< Yes,” replied the eunuch. ‘And what is your name?” ‘‘T am called Molech. Iam an Egyptian by birth, and was brought hither by Merolboth, four years before his death. I have since served Modad.” ‘‘How learned you this of which you have told me, and why do you betray your master?” asked the youth, as he cast a searching glance into the face of his compan- ion. ‘‘There is no need that you should know how I obtained my information,” answered the Egyptian, without hesitation; ‘¢ but I will tell you why I betray the king. Abdah Nazor has often befriended me, and once he saved my life. He asked of me that I would protect thee as far as lay in my power, but why, as I have already told thee, I know not; neither do I know how the old dervise ever supposed that you would be in danger from the king.” There was something in the manner of the eunuch that convinced Noureddin of the truth of what he had heard, and for several moments he remained in deep meditation. He told the Egyptian that he might depend upon his secrecy, and also that he should accept the office, and with a noiseless, cautious tread, the black left the apart- ment. | Noureddin retired to his bed, but it was a long time ere he slept. He pondered upon what he had heard, and his heart beat quicker as he thought of the indignity that was about to be cast upon the city, but he could frame no Eomicboo SS (Efe) m