The Slave Sculptor — page 28: what you’re looking at

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

£0 THE SLAVE SCULPTOR. ** My lord has put to command,’’ replied the priest reverently. ‘*T would have you seek Maxtla Ytzcoatl, the sculptor, and bid him hasten to my presence.”’ ‘* My good lord,”’ interrupted the priest; ‘* it was of him I came to speak. He is missing, and there is suspicion of foul play against his life. I fear that the young man has been murdered.”” ‘*Murdered!’’ He started at the word, and then related to the em the substance of his interview with Lord Ahuitzol. The priest istened attentively, and, in return, gave the monarch a ial ac- count of his proceedings at and about the old noble’s palace, during the past few days. He had haunted the place like a specter — for, was not Mazina’s safety dearer to him than life?” Twill accompany you to the sculptor’s studio,”’ exclaimed the emperor, after a moment’s silence; * and will inquire into the par- ticulars of this affair *’ | Soon the royal palanquin, blazing with burnished gold, emerged from the imperial court-yard, horne upon the shoulders of four no- bles. Over it was a canopy of gaudy feather-work, powdered with jewels, and fringed with silver. front of the royal chariot march- ed two aged officers of state, preceded by the strange priest in his sable robe and mask; while, on either side, and in rear, were a crowd of young nobles who acted as a body-guard for the emperor. Reaching the studio, the monarch descended from the litter, walk- ed into the workshop, and his eyes swept around the apartment with a searching scrutiny. He then passed on to the rear room, leaning upon the arms of the two officers, and accompanied by the priest. The old nobles uttered an exclamation of surprise, on beholdin the wonderful likeness of their emperor, chi: from a solid block of porphyry. They were loud in their expressions of appr of the remarkable powers of the sculptor. Montezama watched the movement and expression of his with a curious smile, and when they had become satisfied with exam- ining the monument, he ordered that it should be carefully removed to his palace. The royal retinue then returned and entered the court-yard, amid the prostrate forms of the populace that had crowded around the procession. The monarch soon issued a proclamation, which was published by heralds throughout et oe capital. The royal mandate announc- ‘* Life, liberty, and power !’’ potent words for the ear of the slave or menial, who knew of these blessings only from their exercise by those who were his masters ! While the heralds were passing through the capital, crying the comicbdooks.com