The King's Talisman — page 94: what you’re looking at

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

THE KINGS TALISMAN, 85 and now he had no mind to retract; so in a decided manner he replied: ‘“] understand your meaning, sire, and my answer was just. I have already sacrificed more than mortal man might have demanded of me, but the danger of the city had great weight in my decision. Now, however, I will sacrifice no more.” : 3 ‘<’Then you will not do my. bidding?” ‘* Not to raise my hand against the old man of whom you speak.” ‘‘ Beware!” exclaimed the monarch, while his cheeks paled, and his lips grew purple with rage. ‘* Beware, Al- Bassa! Once more—will you see that-Abdah Nazor is re- moved from my way?” ‘JT will not,” proudly returned the Aunaeine as he stepped back, and folded his arms across his breast. ‘«“Then, by the powers of Tartarus, your own head shall be the forfeit!’ cried Modad, as he brought his hands to- gether with a sharp clap. , ‘“My heart is already crushed and broken, sire,” calmly returned Al-Bassa, as four black eunuchs entered the apart- ment at the signal just given by the king, ‘‘and my head you may take in welcome; but I tell thee, Modad, Al-Bassa’s blood will lay heavily on your soul.” ‘“Not half so heavily as his own disobedience shall rest upon his own,” muttered Modad, moving back a pace and motioning the eunuchs forward. ‘‘ I would not harm thee, Al-Bassa,” he continued, betraying a slight hesitation in his purpose, ‘‘ but I must be obeyed. Once more, will you do as I have desired?” “«« Never!” For a full minute the king gazed upon his stubborn coun- selor in silence. Anger had been succeeded by astonish- ment, and again anger had gained the ascendency. He could have smitten a common citizen at once to the dust who m Eomichooks:co