Their countenances were pale, enquiring, and agitated.
'Sire,' said Jabaster, 'march to Judah.'
'It portends war,' replied Alroy, endeavouring to recover himself.
'Perchance some troubles in Persia.'
'Troubles at home, no other. The danger is nigh. Look to thyself.'
A wild scream was heard in the gardens. It sounded thrice.
'What is this?' exclaimed Alroy, really agitated. 'Rouse the guard,
Jabaster, search the gardens.'
''Tis useless and may do harm. It was a spirit that shrieked.'
'What said it?'
'_Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin!_'
'The old story, the priest against the king,' said Honain to Alroy,
when at his morrow's interview, he had listened to the events of the
preceding night. 'My pious brother wishes to lead you back to the
Theocracy, and is fearful that, if he prays at Bagdad instead of Zion,
he may chance to become only the head of an inferior sect, instead of
revelling in the universal tithes of a whole nation. As for the meteor,
Scherirah must have crossed the river about the same time, and the
Sultan of Roum may explain the bloody portent. For the shriek, as I
really have no acquaintance with spirits, I must leave the miraculous
communication to the favoured ears and initiated intelligences of your
highness and my brother.
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