He spoke at once of the matters uppermost in the minds of his guests, gave them news of the party from New York, told how they were in comfort in the palace on the summit of Mount Khalak, struck a momentary tragic note in mention of the mystery still mantling the absence of the king and repeated the announcement already made by Cassyrus, the premier, that in two days' time, failing the return of the sovereign, the king's daughter would be publicly recognized, with solemn ceremonial, as Princess of Yaque.

Then he turned to St.
George, his eyes searching him through the haze of smoke.
"Your own coming to Yaque," he said abruptly, "was the result of a sudden decision ?" "Quite so, your Highness," replied St.George.

"It was wholly unexpected." "Then we must try to make it also an unexpected pleasure," suggested the prince lightly.

"I am come to ask you to spend the day with me in looking about Med, the King's City." He dropped the monogrammed stub of his cigarette in a little jar of smaragdos, brought, he mentioned in passing, from a despoiled temple of one of the Chthonian deities of Tyre, and turned toward his guests with a winning smile.
"Come," he said, "I can no longer postpone my own pleasure in showing you that our nation is the Lady of Kingdoms as once were Babylon and Chaldea." It was as if the strange panorama of the night before had once more opened its frame, and they were to step within.

As the prince left them St.George turned to Rollo for the novelty of addressing a reality.
"How do you wish to spend the day, Rollo ?" he asked him.
Rollo looked pensive.
"Could I stroll about a bit, sir ?" he asked.
"Stroll!" commanded St.George cheerfully.
"Thank you, sir," said Rollo.