CHAPTER XXXVI - THE QUEEN AT BAY

The atmosphere of feverish desire to do something not only troubled Lais, but also the whole of Velia that day; but as with Queen so with people, every effort seemed destined to end in failure. The aim of the one was to avert suspicion, crush opposition, and secure her own safety; that of the many to avenge Vedrona and defend Glarces. Both parties were, in their way, determined, but fortune, like the priests and magicians, halted between two opinions, in order to be able to stand well with the victors at the end. In all the city nothing was certain but Vedrona's death and doubt-distrust. Men were afraid to consult their most intimate friends, and received the confidence of suspicion in return. Apart from the magicians there were not half a dozen in the whole city who were not loyal to Glarces, but all were afraid to confess it. A single spark of moral courage would have set enthusiasm ablaze, and could but Teresh or Zachra have left the palace it would have been ill for the Queen; but

Glarces had to be guarded, and both knew how Lais watched and hoped for their temporary absence in order to give her an opportunity to make an irretrievable move.

In all this uncertainty Maphir had a full, if not more than his legitimate share. No man was more determined than he that the consequences of all this trouble should rest upon the right shoulders, and from the first he had been fully persuaded that in some unforeseen way he and the lions would be able to accomplish it.

The events of the morning had, in a measure, destroyed this hope. The lions had never been favourites with Lais, because her presence always irritated them as in the case of Casca. More than once she had counselled Vedrona to have them confined, or even destroyed, and after their conduct of the morning Maphir had not much doubt as to their coming fate. The thought of this was not pleasant, not only on account of the brutes, but their destruction would dispense with his services, and much as he wished to see his home again he scorned the idea of leaving Velia until Glarces had been avenged.

He was lost in a brown study over this perplexity when he received the Queen's summons. He knew what it meant, but the habits and experience of his life had taught him that calm courage is more valuable than physical strength in a deadly crisis, and under the circumstances he hoped that all the victory would not lie with the Queen. So far she had ignored him, the antipathy she entertained for the lions being extended to their keeper. But in his way Maphir was equally proud as the Assyrian, and until he was well upon his way he had not called to mind that this would be their first interview.

As he passed through the palace Teresh met him, and seeing his companion divined the meaning. They did not speak, but a suggestive look was exchanged, and the counsellor passed on.

Maphir entered the royal presence with the same calm bearing he always assumed when not actively engaged - the slow measured stride, arms folded across his chest, head erect and eyes leisurely but watchfully rolling. He neither paused nor waited for recognition, but approached the Queen, who, engaged with some triviality in her hair, did not for the moment notice him.

He bent his knee and bowed in graceful silence, then rose and waited. The Queen was in her most condescending mood. “I am afraid your lions were troublesome this morning,” she began.

“They were better than I expected, lady.”

She did not appear to notice his mode of address. It was scarcely an occasion for exacting detail, especially from one naturally so rude and austere. The term he used was one of respect, and that was sufficient.

“Indeed! I though they were very defiant.”

“Lions are not to be gauged by the nature of camels or goats, lady. They have been very restless since the time the Princess died, and I am glad nothing more serious has happened of their going out.”

“But why did you take them if they were dangerous?” “My lord Casca commanded it.”

“But did you not explain to him?”

“No! I am neither Queen nor Prince, lady; my lord allows none other to explain.”

“That is unworthy of you and annoys me.” “It is none the less true.”

“But it annoys me, I say, and I will not hear it. What Casca did was in obedience to my wish, which had you observed so faithfully you had not now been here.”

Maphir bowed, but made no other reply.

“Why did you not take the place he gave you in the procession?” “I dare not leave the lions, lady.” “Why not take them with you?”

“Because they are not to be argued with. They were with the Prince and would not leave him.”

“Had Vedrona told you, they would have been removed.” “But had they been in such dangerous temper I should have told the Prince, and he would not have run the risk.” “It is strange they should never show this vice before.” “It was the death of the Princess that disturbed them, lady.”

“Nonsense! What can they understand about such things? Say, rather, it was one of your clever excuses to get to the Prince.”

“Did it need any excuse, lady?”

The question came in such a natural tone of astonishment; it was the most inevitably certain enquiry to rise in the mind of one who knew the inner life of the palace as Maphir did, that Lais dare not resent it as impertinence, or place upon it the suggestion of suspicion. It was too clearly her own fault - a most annoying indiscretion, with probable serious consequences unless she could manage to cover it.

“You mistake me, I am afraid, in the use of a misleading word. Your attachment to the unfortunate Prince is well known to me, and, like the great multitude of his friends, who are so very anxious to do something for him, I imagined you were glad of the incident to be near his person and show your sympathy.”

“I was glad to be so near the mighty Prince, and yet I did my best to take the lions away.”

“I am pleased to hear you make that frank admission. Tasha has but just left me, and she suggested that what took place had been arranged beforehand that you might convey to the Prince some scheme of his pretended friends.”

“The lady Tasha has told you this?”

“Yes; she has told me a strange story of what has passed between you and herself; so strange that I am unable to believe it. That her own admissions are true, I know, but when she attempted to throw the full responsibility on you I began to doubt her, and called you hither that I might hear what you would say.”

“And will you recall the lady Tasha that I may hear her charge?”

“No! That were not well; but I would have you tell me all that has passed between you, then I shall be able to judge concerning you both.”

Maphir drew himself to his full height and answered:

“In her absence, lady, I have nothing to say. She has always been my friend, and unless I hear her deny it, she is the same now.”

“She denounces you as a traitor to the State and myself.” “Let me hear her make the accusation, then I will answer her.”

“No! You shall speak in her absence as she has spoken in yours, or pay the penalty we award to slaves who are slanderous and unfaithful.”

“How can I speak, lady, when I have nothing to say?”

“So you refuse - you defy me! Well, be prepared to take the consequences of your stubbornness. Machaon is in waiting to exact the penalty. If you wish to be silent you shall be - perhaps more so than you wish.”

She touched the gong.

Zosine answered the summons, and the irate Queen commanded her to call Machaon.

His reply was prompt, but his astonishment was great when he found no one but the hunter with the Queen. The situation was still more incomprehensible to him when he observed the quiet composure of the one and the excitement of the other.

“Seize that slave,” cried Lais, as soon as she saw the doctor.

Machaon paused in doubt. It was a dangerous task to undertake if Maphir objected.

“Shall I not call the guard?” he suggested.

“Yes! I had forgotten that. Raise an alarm at once.”

“There is no need for that, lady. If you will give your command I am ready to obey.”

“I will see to that,” she replied, as the second officer of the guard and his men entered the apartment. “I will teach you the cost of defiance, and make you understand the reward of conspiracy.”

“Conspiracy!” cried the officer.

“Yes! I have discovered the perpetrator of the crime which has robbed Sahama of its Queen, and when I would deal leniently with him if he would but tell of his associates he dared to laugh at and defy me.”

“Shall we carry him away, O mighty Queen?”

“No, not for the present; through him I will teach a useful lesson to all who have been with him in this foul murder. He chooses not to speak, and he shall have his wish. I will help him to keep his resolution. Machaon, have you your knife?”

“It is at hand, O Queen.”

“Then bring it hither.” She had completely recovered herself by this time. The entrance of the guard and the sound of voices had attracted the ladies in attendance, and Lais was about to exercise her first prerogative - it was congenial, too, because it was one calculated to impress all who were halting between two opinions, and she rose to the occasion with a full sense of her royal authority.

The doctor returned with his knife.

“Now hear me, all who at some time may be tempted to prove unfaithful to the confidence reposed in you. In all this palace no son of Velia has received more kindness and consideration at the hands of the great Glarces and his murdered sister than this slave, whose heart, by the wise decree of the gods I have discovered to be more black than his sullen face. For the crime of murder he will answer to the tribunal of the land. It shall always be my best endeavour to uphold the traditions of the people over whom the gods have placed me, therefore for this, his chief offence, I will leave him to your wise decrees. But it has been so ordained of them of olden time that any slave found guilty of defiance to the Queen-mother shall be liable to the forfeiture of his tongue. This same offence has he been guilty of, and I command that Machaon shall so mutilate him.”

A shudder passed round the room at the awful sentence, but Maphir stood calm and stoical, not attempting to reply. “Is that your will, O Queen?” asked the doctor.

“Let it be done at once,” she answered.

“I will instantly lay the tongue before you,” said Machaon, as he signed to the guard to remove the hunter. “Stay!” commanded the Queen. “Let it be done here.” “May the Queen forgive me, but I must have fire and irons at hand that I may staunch the blood.”

“Let the tiger skin from off his shoulders drink it up; or if he swallow it and die that perhaps were better.

She took her seat, and at her signal Maphir was seized, thrown down, bound and prepared for the ghastly operation. “Have you any word to say - will you not sue for mercy?” asked Machaon, as he drew his knife in readiness for its work. “ How can I ask for mercy when I have done no wrong? The Queen says Tasha has accused me. Let her be brought - “

“Silence!” commanded the Queen. “Do my bidding, Machaon; I am Queen, and will be obeyed.”

“May the gods help you,” murmured the doctor. “Open your mouth.”

Maphir swallowed something, but made no further attempt to speak. Then opening his mouth, the tongue was already in Machaon's grasp when Teresh hastily entered the room.

“Hold!” he cried. “What crime is this with which you would stain your souls?”

“No crime,” replied the Queen imperiously. “We are dispensing justice in accordance with the traditions of Sahama. Proceed, Machaon.”

“Again I say - Hold!” interposed Teresh, as Machaon turned to the hunter. “This is not justice. Unbind the - !”

“Am I not Queen?” enquired Lais.

“True, most favoured of the gods,” replied Teresh, with a most humble obeisance, “but when this State was founded, by a wise decree it was provided that a Queen-mother should sit upon its throne who should direct affairs with the assistance and consent of her counsellors. No Queen has power beyond the traditions of the nation. For the punishment of all crime in Velia I am responsible. What is this offence?”