CHAPTER XLIV - CASCA AND MAPHIR

Maphir stood with crossed legs and folded arms, leaning against the rugged natural arch forming a doorway to the inner cave. The curtains hid him from the pleasant little group he declined to join. He had lost his master once, he was determined to guard him now, though there was little occasion for watchfulness. Still, a double safety is always better than a doubtful one. Again, he was more at his ease and comfortable outside. He could hear all that passed, but had little interest save for the occasional monosyllable scarcely audible from the lips of Glarces, over which he smiled and nodded his head approvingly as he noticed the strength increase.

Zhan lay dozing and motionless at his feet, occasionally receiving playful recognition by the burying of the hunter's foot in his shaggy mane.

Maphir started, and the lion was up in an instant. The well trained ear had caught the distant sound of naked feet approaching. At the outer door he met a slave.

“There is a light in the golden caves!”

Maphir slipped his sandals and hurried away, followed by Zhan and the slave.

The notice was timely given, since the torch, borne by a man, not yet recognisable, was still at some distance. He was alone, at which Maphir smiled complacently, and gave a shrewd guess as to his identity.

“Come back,” he whispered, cautiously leading the way into a cave where the faintest glimmer of a light was yet uncovered. “Cover the lamp at once; then wait. When he has passed, follow me, silent as death, at a safe distance. When he stops, hide; but have lights and a cord in readiness. Zhan! Come here! Lie down!”

By this time, Casca - for it was he - was nearing the fissure, and the hunter kept well back while he watched his approach.

To his mortification, however, the chamberlain did not cross the bridge, but disappeared behind a rock, and an instant later there was a sound as of a closing door.

Maphir crossed the gangway with the stealth of a cat, and, having instinctively measured the distance with his eye, crept cautiously forward, round the rock into a secret passage, touched the door, passed on, and a few paces ahead caught the faint glimmer of a light. In a silence and blackness like that of death his feet pushed forward till he reached a crevice through which he could watch and hear all that transpired. It was a room luxuriously appointed opening into another apartment beyond - a cosy corner Casca knew well, and the one in which Glarces spent that first night of his imprisonment.

“Now, my beautiful birds of golden plumage,” Casca began, as he took his seat at a table and placed thereon a variety of articles drawn from his wallet. “So, to-morrow is to be the eventful day, is it? Well! Lais is the Queen, and as such her will must be obeyed, but I'll warrant me not even Meshrac and all his crew, with the gods thrown in, could foretell what the events will be. The arrangements for these particular royal pleasures are altogether in my hands, and I think I can draw up a most wonderful and surprising list in every way. Now, let me see! How shall the sports begin? That is not difficult to answer. The Queen demands the Prince's acceptance of her offer to marry him! The Prince's! ah, ha! What a Prince! Well, such as he is, she shall have him - it's the best that can be done. The message must be written by the Prince upon her own tablets. That was a very good thought - a most capital thought. But when I think of it the great and excellent Glarces is somewhat careless of late; his table is confused and scarcely fit to lay these dainty tablets on while he writes his tender reply; his fingers are at present stiff for want of exercise; and the light of his new palace has been softened somewhat - so, as his friend, I think I had better write the reply. Lais will not know - that is, she has not known though I have frequently done the same lately. Now, what shall I say?”

“ ‘To the beloved of the gods, the great and noble Queen Lais.’ That would please and flatter her, but it would be suspicious, for Glarces never flatters. Try again!

“ ‘To my well beloved Queen - cousin.’ That is better, and yet not quite the thing.

“ ‘To my little sister, Lais the Queen.’ That's it! The gods could not improve on that! It is his old name for her, with a recognition of her true position. After that I can venture on anything without fear. Now for the rest:

“ ‘Casca has conquered me. I am yours.’ That is sufficient, and every word is true. It only remains to attach his seal and all is done. It is fortunate I did not leave the signet with him, or he would have lost it.”

Then affixing the signature he replaced the tablets in his pocket, leaving the ring upon the table as if but recently used. “This will bring her down at once, and, of course the bird will have flown. Now to arrange this.”

He now attended to the lamps, careful to see them well filled, and left ready to be lighted on his return. Personal effects of Glarces were scattered around, and Vedrona's amethyst suggestively laid beside the signet ring. Then surveying the whole aspect of the place

“Very satisfactory indeed,” he exclaimed. “It looks as if he had but just left it. Now for one or two indications as to what has happened.”

He tore one of the crimson straps from a sandal, and took up a favourite diadem such as worn by the Princes of Assyria, which he had surreptitiously brought for the purpose, it being a present from Lais. With a final look to make sure that all was in due order, he took the torch from its stand and left the room. On reaching the chasm he stopped, and lowering the light began to search it critically from side to side of the gallery.

Maphir's arms twitched to hurl him into the gulf as he divined the intent, but he restrained himself and watched. That entrance to the kingdom of Pluto, according to the popular superstition, had evidently not been constructed in anticipation of Casca's requirements, and it took time and thought to adjust his plans to circumstances. He worked it out, however, and, with a congratulatory chuckle, presently dropped the strap carefully over a fragment of rock he was able to reach by lying flat upon the floor. Again he was baffled, but leaving the sandal and head-dress on the ground he paid a brief visit to the cave, returning with a light rod, on which he placed the cap, then cautiously lowered it to a safe ledge on the other side of the fissure. Next he made an attempt to deposit the sandal lower still, but it slipped and was lost.

Content, however, with these suggestions as to a possible reason for the Prince's absence, he next loosened one end of the bottom rail of the barrier and passed over the gangway.

There was no real necessity to continue his tour, but under the circumstances he considered it wise to ascertain what the exact condition of Glarces was.

Maphir followed, keeping well out of the circle of light should the eunuch turn, and behind him came the two slaves with the lion yet in the rear.

Reaching the cave where Glarces lay, Casca paused to cover his feet and legs before attempting to cross the floor, during which operation he commenced to rally his prisoner.

“Glarces, my friend! Are you asleep? Glarces, wake up! I have come to summon you to your espousal. The Queen offers you her heart and hand and has sent me to command your acceptance of both. Do you hear me, or are you too wrapped up in your dreams of Vedrona to take any interest in flesh and blood? Perhaps you are sulky to-night - had too much supper it may be; but wait an instant while I find my ticklish little goad, and I will loose your tongue, I'll warrant me. Now, my fortunate but troublesome rival, where are you? By Pluto, you have such a fondness for this luxurious bed that I shall not be able to dig you out presently! I see what is the matter - I have given you too much liberty; I must shorten your love chain! Oh, that's a good thought. Where is the chain, then I can lift you up, or get a trace of the way you have burrowed! Here it is! Now, my cunning little fox, we are on your trail! “Then he exclaimed with alarm, as the chain offered no resistance to his vicious tug, and he was only saved from measuring his full length in the filth by reason of its shortness - “Ha! ye gods, what's this? The leather rotted! And when I thought to find him dead, he's gone! Gone from me as he vanished from the people and from Lais!” Then, recovering his assurance as he remembered the impossibility of escape, he went on : “But he is not far away,” and began to search around the cave. “He has lost his relish for long walks lately. Where are you, Glarces? Are you in your humorous mood and want to play at ‘you-hide-and-I-find’? Well, here I come, and I will find you even though you hide in - “ Here he caught sight of Maphir and fell, horrified and screaming, “Pluto. Help! Help!”

The hunter had taken up his position at the door of the chamber where, with arms folded and his figure drawn up to apparently gigantic proportions in the faint light, he waited until, in his search for Glarces, the chamberlain discovered him.

“Get up!” he said, in a voice of menacing authority the terrified eunuch dare not trifle with, but his teeth were chattering with fear.

“Yes, yes; I will, great Pluto, when I can find my feet. But have mercy upon me. I have lost Glarces.”

“He is with me.”

“Is he dead, then?”

“The game of ‘you-hide-I-find’ is at an end; let that suffice.”

“But Lais the Queen has sent me to bring him to her. What must I say?” “Nothing.”

“But I am responsible for his safety - that is unless he is dead.” “And I am now responsible for yours.”

So far the infernal deity was more conciliatory than Casca had imagined, therefore his confidence began to return.

“I am safe, great Pluto. Tell me that Glarces is dead, and I will never venture into your realm again.”

“He is not dead, but you will never leave this realm again.”

This not only recalled but immeasurably increased Casca's former panic, while Maphir was beginning to appreciate the retribution he had determined to administer without interference.

“No, no! great Pluto, not that-not that! I am not guilty, and I entreat your ”

“You shall have mercy; I will see to that. Mercy measured liberally with your own reed; of the quality you have given to the Prince - your master and friend. Lift up your head and see who I am; then you will know I speak the truth - you will pray for Pluto to take you from my power.” As he spoke the hunter caught the torch from Casca's palsied hand and brought the light closer to his own face. “Maphir!”

“Yes, Maphir; and with me the day of vengeance!” This discovery was a quick restorative.

“Stand aside and let me pass, or by the gods I will slay you.” Maphir laughed but moved not.

“Stand aside, I say, and let me pass; do you forget I am the Queen's chamberlain?”

“And I am Nemesis. It is your turn to vanish now as Glarces has done both from the people and Lais.”

Casca suddenly remembered that where he was authority lay in physical powers, and hence he was at the hunter's mercy.

“You don't mean that you are going to keep me prisoner, do you?”

“I don't know. That may depend upon yourself. Answer what I ask, and you will stop here till I know if you tell me the truth.”

“I will tell you everything.”

“Who besides yourself knows where the Prince was imprisoned?” “No one.”

“Tell no lies.”

“By the gods I swear I speak the truth.”

“The Queen knows.”

“No. She did not want to know at first, and I have so managed it that she has never known.”

“Who brought the Prince here?”

“I did.”

“Who helped you?”

“Only two slaves.”

“Where are they?”

“They fell down the chasm in going back.”

“Does Shamer know of this?”

“No! The Queen has told him she has sent them on a mission.” “Then the Queen knows of that?”

“No! She believes they are in attendance on the Prince.” “Does she think he needs attendance in a place like this?”

“No! She believes he is in a secret room in the golden caves, and is to be liberated to-morrow.”

“Then how does he come to be here?” “Oh – oh - he was violent.”

“Who ordered him to be kept in this state? Now, be careful, for I have Zhan near by. Who brought him here?”

“I did.”

“Does the Queen know he has been treated like this?” “Not exactly. But she has instructed me to be very severe.”

“Then how does she imagine him able to write that message upon her tablets.”

“What tablets?”

“Her tablets in your pocket. Now speak the truth or I will give you to the

“I wrote that because - when she comes to see him I want her to think he has fallen down the abyss.”

“Oh! I see your scheme now. But we will change it. Clear off that message.”

Maphir was not to be trifled with and Casca tremblingly obeyed. “Where are your own leaves?”

“Here!” answered the now half-dead wretch, producing them from the depth of his wallet.

“Now, take your pen and write upon your own: “ ‘To the most noble Teresh - ’ “

“But Teresh has nothing to say to me.”

“Do as I tell you unless you wish to make a meal for the lions.”

It needed no further inducement to write the superscription, which being finished, Maphir continued:

“ ‘Tell the Queen at once that I have found the Prince.’ “ “But I have not found him.” “Do as I tell you.”

He had to do it, and, adding his own signature, Maphir took possession of the tablets. Afterwards he had a second message inscribed on the Queen's tablets and a third upon a piece of skin, both of which he carefully appropriated.

“That will do for the present,” said the hunter. “Now you may go to bed.” “Where?” enquired the chamberlain, in a new and added panic of fear. “Oh, I will be good to you and let you have the Prince's bedroom.” “This?”

“Yes! The Prince will not need it to-night.”

“But - Maphir! I am willing to do anything you ask me if you will have mercy! This will poison me.”

“I'm afraid it won't; still you can try it. You ought not to be so well cared for as Glarces, but you see I'm generous. You may have his bed.”