I must see
Scherirah. I much suspect----what's this? More news!'
A third Tatar entered.
'May it please your Highness, this Tatar has arrived from the Syrian
frontier.'
'Mischief in the wind, I doubt not. Speak out, knave!'
'Sire! pardon me; I bear but sad intelligence.'
'Out with the worst!'
'I come from the Lord Medad.'
'Well! has he rebelled? It seems a catching fever.'
'Ah! no, dread Sire, Lord Medad has no thought but for thy glory. Alas!
alas! he has now to guard it against fearful odds. Lord Medad bade me
see the Caliph and none else, and tell your Highness, that the moment
the beacon which announced the Feast of the New Moon was fired on
Lebanon, the Sultan of Roum and the old Arabian Caliph unfurled the
standard of their Prophet, in great array, and are now marching towards
Bagdad.'
'A clear conspiracy! Has Honain arrived? Summon a council of the Vizirs
instantly. The world is up against me. Well! I'm sick of peace. They
shall not find me napping!'
'You see, my lords,' said Alroy, ere the council broke up, 'we must
attack them singly. There can be no doubt of that. If they join, we must
combat at great odds. 'Tis in detail that we must route them. I will
myself to Persia.
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