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to hasten his succession. The plot was discovered, and the plotter I punished by showing him a mark of extraordinary favor. Immediately it was rumored about that I had selected him as my heir; and within ten days he died. But not by my command, for that was superfluous. The princes of the blood, and the lords of the court . . . ."

The rajah made a suggestive, sweeping gesture with his hand, then continued, "Me you were able to save from assassination; yourself you could not save, nor could I save you. You would ride in state; rumors would drift about. And you know the rest."

"Even so, my lord; I know the rest. But I will take my chance. It is not good for a man to cherish a vision, however mad, without having made some effort to attain it."

"Think again, Zaid, think again! Cast aside your insanity. Choose whatsoever else you will . . . a lakh of rupees . . . . ten lakhs if you will . . . . jewels the like of which you have never dreamed . . . . and I have a dancing girl whose equal is not to be found in the entire world . . . . all this, and more, is yours, for you have served me well; it is to you that I owe my life. Be reasonable, friend, be reasonable."

"Be reasonable? That is the one command I can not obey, for in me there is no reason. This mad vision has haunted me entirely too long. So, though it may cost me my life, as surely it may, let me see it to a finish. For there at least would be a roundness, a completeness to my career that in no way else could I attain. In the square before the great temple of Kali I found the inspiration that led me to enter your service, to attain your favor, to serve you well; and in that same square, if need be, I will meet my doom. The cycle will be complete. After that, let come what may, for I shall have cheated destiny of the rare gift of satisfaction, the gift so often denied to kings. And after all, is the assassin so sure of finding me? Is that conclusion inevitable?"

The rajah smiled as one upon whom great understanding has suddenly descended.

"Zaid," he said, "you are more than ever a man after my own heart. Mad you are, stark mad and raving; I understand, for I, too, have been haunted by visions. But none has understood my thoughts, even as none would understand your mad desire. It would be misconstrued, and . . . . you know the result."

Suddenly the rajah arose.

"Come, Zaid, let me tempt you with the things I have but named."

And Zaid was led through subterranean vaults, treasure vaults full of gilded arms and armor, trays of flaming jewels, great chests of age-old coins, dinars and mohurs of gold, the secreted plunder of a hundred generations.

"All this leaves you unmoved? Then let me try again."

The Persian accompanied his master to the very heart of the palace, to a hall overshadowed with twilight—a broad, spacious hall whose walls were curiously carved with strange figures in unnamably odd postures, engaged in unmentionable diversions. And then his ears were caressed by the soft, sensuously wailing notes of reed and stringed instruments: his senses were stirred by the dull pulsing of atabals, throbbing like a heart racked with passion. And through the purple gloom of incense fumes he saw the lithe, swaying, gilded bodies of dancing girls, slim and wondrously beautiful. One, emerging from the figures of the dance, slowly advanced and made obeisance before the rajah⟨.⟩

"And this is Nilofal, the matchless bayadere, she whose equal is not to be found in the entire world. Should she please you . . . ."