CHAPTER XXVII - CONSTERNATION

The frantic announcement made by Æna produced a peculiar effect upon Tasha, who heard every word, but, failing to realise their import, felt half inclined to laugh at the absurd excitement of the girl. Then the sound of hurrying feet, the inrush of officers, members of the guard and slaves with enquiring consternation written upon every face; and the still but partially conscious Prince clinging to her for protection she alone could afford, served to rouse her stupefied senses to a painful appreciation of the circumstances. With the rapidity of a lightning flash she then grasped the situation - understood everything necessary for the moment. Vedrona was stricken, but it was impossible that any such blow could be fatal. Immediate help would yet save her, whatever might prove to be the nature of her injury; but Glarces, whether he was actually guilty or not, must be looked after. Fortunately Orasus was there, so leaving his master to his charge she turned to the perplexed captain of the guard, who had just arrived. “The Princess, captain,” she gasped. “Yes, what about her?”

“Æna says – she - is dead.” “Dead! How? Where?” “Murdered! In her room,” replied the girl.

“Follow me, men,” and accompanied by Tasha and the whole crowd he hurried away to the fatal chamber. “Guard both doors; allow none to enter but members of the Council,” he commanded, and sending one swift messenger for Machaon, he entered.

He paused instinctively and drew Tasha back as his eye fell upon the prostrate, half-concealed form; then, hoping for the best, he started forward and took the hand still grasping the curtain. Alas! it was quite cold! Hope was dead.

“Ye gods,” he cried, “we are too late!”

“No, no! We must save her - we must save her!” cried the heart-broken Tasha.

“I wish we could,” replied the sorrowful soldier; “but this is not my first sight of death. I know it too well to be deceived.”

“Call for help, Petronius! Call for help, and carry her to the bed!We must do something.”

“Touch her hand, lady! Look at the film over her eyes! We can do nothing but wait till Machaon comes.”

“My poor, dear child!” she sobbed, as she took the cold face between her hands, then bent and passionately kissed the unresponsive lips; “how gladly would I have given a thousand lives to save you from such a fate.”

“So would we all, lady; but when the gods command it none of us can find a substitute for this duty. Who, in the name of all the furies, can have done the deed, and why?”

He pushed the curtain back with his foot, and in doing so caught sight of the handle of the dagger.

“What!” he exclaimed, “the Princes' knife! What foul conspiracy is this? Is it not enough to take her life without trying to cast suspicion upon him? This is too damnable, and makes me blush to think so foul a fiend may be my countryman.”

As he spoke Machaon entered followed by several members of the Council. The sight of the physician revived Tasha's hopes.

“Save her, Machaon, save her!” she cried. “Oh! tell me it is not yet too

A very cursory glance at the body satisfied him.

“Much too late, I am sorry to say.” Then, feeling how cold the body was, he added, “She has been dead well nigh a watch.”

“Where is Casca?” enquired Teresh, looking around for the absent chamberlain. “If I am not mistaken he will be able to throw some light upon this ugly business. Where is he?”

“I hope he may, but I doubt it,” replied the captain.

“He was so overcome with wine at the commencement of the revels that I ordered his arrest, and he is still sleeping under guard.”

“I don't say he did the deed, but I am persuaded he knew of its intent.”

“That must be for enquiry afterwards,” suggested Machaon. “Our first duty is to attend to the body. Where is the Prince?”

“He was with the lady Tasha when the alarm was given. The shock has so unnerved him that I left him there with Orasus, and guarded the door to prevent annoyance.”

“That is well. See that he is not disturbed. I will return presently.”

The absence of the Prince was a welcome relief for the time to the sorrow­stricken officials.

A messenger, however, arrived from the Queen asking for information as to the unusual disturbance in the palace, and it was deemed advisable to depute Chryses to make the most favourable communication he could devise. He had scarcely left for this melancholy purpose before Lais entered the outer room to which the officials had withdrawn. She was in the most hurried negligee attire, having, as she presently carefully explained, heard the commotion, but being unable to learn the cause, ventured to satisfy herself, convinced that nothing short of most alarming occurrences were responsible for what had disturbed her rest.

“What is this horrible thing I hear?” she asked excitedly, as she rushed to Machaon and Teresh. “Tell me it is not true.”

Teresh turned aside to Zachra, leaving the physician to answer the enquiry.

“Alas, lady; the truth is so bad I almost fear you have not heard the worst.”

“Where is she? Let me go to her at once, or I shall go mad.”

“Watch her, Zachra,” whispered the Chief Councillor. “Such a demonstration is scarcely consistent with her character.”

“Hush!” replied his friend. “We may watch in secret, but if we dare to think she will hear us.”

That was wise advice on Zachra's part, for beneath the veil of grief, Lais had every energy strained to note the doings of the two men she had most cause to fear.

“Calm yourself as much as possible,” said the doctor, with kindly persuasion; “this blow falls heavily upon us all, but the gods have spoken and we must needs submit.”

“This is no action of the gods,” she cried, with indignant vehemence. “It is some monster fiend who has hurled this shaft! Oh, that I knew where such fury found his ambush; I would torture him to death with my own hands.” Here she found relief in tears, to which the physician ministered faithfully, being ignorant of the suspicion which so exercised the minds of his two confreres. Having led her to a seat he sympathetically consoled her, until she anxiously enquired:

“Has the Queen been told?”

“She made enquiries, and as you entered Chryses left us to break the news.”

“Why did you not go? She may need your help.” “We thought the priest would be better than a physician. It is his duty to be up to greet the sunrise, and his presence would not, therefore, be so suggestive as my own.”

“But she will need someone to comfort her. I will go at once.”

She rose to take her departure, but he gently restrained her “If you will permit me,” he said, with considerate deference, “I think it better she should be left entirely in the hands of the priest and her maids for the present. Your own natural grief might rather add to than diminish her sorrow just now.”

She yielded to his wish, and resumed her seat to indulge in another spasm of weeping, during which Machaon was summoned into the adjoining room, deputing his charge of Lais to Teresh.

When she discovered his absence she enquired “Where is Machaon?” “He will return immediately.”

“Where is he? I must see him at once,” she announced authoritatively.

“He signified his wish that you should await his return,” Teresh answered evasively.

“I cannot wait. I will go to the Queen at once.”

“I am sorry to oppose your wish, O Princess, but Machaon has forbidden anyone to visit either the Queen or Prince without his permission.”

“I fail to understand you.”