If I might ask, why does that little black monkey hang yonder." "Because he tried to do murder with his poisoned arrows," answered Ithobal sullenly.
"And failed?
Well, it must comfort you to think that he did fail if he was of the number of your servants.

It is strange now that some knave unknown attempted murder last night in the palace gardens, also with poisoned arrows.

I say attempted, but as yet I cannot be sure that he did not succeed." "What!" exclaimed Ithobal, "was----" and he stopped.
"No, King, prince Aziel was not hit; the Lady Elissa took that shaft through her hand, and lies between life and death.

I am doctoring her, and had it not been for my skill she would now be stiff and black--as the rogue who shot the arrow." "Save her," said Ithobal hoarsely, "and I will pay you a doctor's fee of a hundred ounces of pure gold.

Oh! had I but known, the clumsy fool should not have died so easily." Metem took out his tablets and made a note of the amount.
"Take comfort, King," he said, "I think that I shall earn the fee.
But to speak truth, this matter looks somewhat ugly, and your name is mentioned in it.