'A rough night,' said Jabaster.
'To those who fear it,' replied Abidan. 'The sun has brought so little
joy to me, I care not for the storm.'
'What news?'
'Woe! woe! woe!'
'Thy usual note, my sister. Will the day never come when we may change
it?'
'Woe! woe! woe! unutterable woe!'
'Abidan, how fares it?'
'Very well.'
'Indeed!'
'As it may turn out.'
'You are brief.'
'Bitter.'
'Have you been to court, that you have learnt to be so wary in your
words, my friend?'
'I know not what may happen. In time we may all become courtiers, though
I fear, Jabaster, we have done too much to be rewarded. I gave him my
blood, and you something more, and now we are at Bagdad. 'Tis a
fine city. I wish to Heaven the shower of Sodom would rain upon its
terraces.'
'I know thou hast something terrible to tell. I know it by that gloomy
brow of thine, that lowers like the tempest. Speak out, man, I can bear
the worst, for which I am prepared.'
'Take it, then. Alroy has proclaimed himself Caliph. Abner is made
Sultan of Persia; Asriel, Ithamar, Medad, and the chief captains,
Vizirs, Honain their chief. Four Moslem nobles are sworn into the
council. The Princess goes to mosque in state next Friday; 'tis said thy
pupil doth accompany her.
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