Then every female present was securely blindfolded and directed to step forward, one at a time, and pick out one of the pieces.
The one who was fortunate enough to get hold of the bit of crystal was the one to have the husband.
In case that no one got hold of the crystal, the queen had the power to give him to whoever she saw fit.
Leo fervently desired that this might be the case, for he felt that if he was compelled to become engaged to any of the females present he would rather it would be Azurma, for the simple reason that she wanted him, and he owed her a debt of gratitude for coming to hunt him up.
When everything was in readiness, the women stepped forward to draw the pieces from the box.
It was quite interesting, and our friends watched the result with bated breath.
As fast as one selected, the bandage was removed from her eyes and she retired to the other end of the hall.
Azurma was the fifth one to draw, and when a black ballot was disclosed to her view, she uttered a cry of dismay, and staggered blindly from the spot.
The next to step forward was a girl as young and fully as beautiful as she.
As she lifted the ballot from the box a murmur went up from the assemblage.