The two men gave each other a searching glance, which said as plainly as words, “How shall we be rid of him?”
“We must be masters of caution,” said the wily priest.
“Suspicion abides not with Yermah and he knows nothing of black art.”
A loud rapping at the front door and hurrying feet along the passageway caused both to rise and listen intently. Simultaneously with the permit to enter, came Cezardis, flushed and in breathless haste.
“Exigency compels the waiving of ceremony,” said he. “A great concourse are in the theater listening to Rahula’s arraignment of Yermah. By a cunningly contrived tragedy, called ‘The Lost Soul’ she scores him without mercy, and has given utterance to all that Alcamayn confided to her concerning the Dorado having concealed his divinity in a ruby which he sent to the high-priestess, Kerœcia.
“Yermah broke his vow, and was blaspheming violently when the swift and terrible punishment came. Alcamayn heard his awful words, but feared even to repeat them, lest we be doomed to suffer again. Rahula has inflamed the populace against him, and they are running through the streets shouting: ‘Down with the apostate, Yermah! He has committed unpardonable sin against the Ineffable! He shall no longer rule Tlamco!’ Dost thou not hear the bugle calls? Signals are flashing from the forts, and the whole city is in uproar.”
Many extraneous sounds bore out this testimony; but neither auditor evinced surprise, though both showed concern.
“So,” said Setos presently, “the prophecy concerning the lost planet has come true. A great and momentous change is upon us.”
“Hast thou not heard the Blessed Books read in the temples?”
“Thou shouldst remember that I have been in the house of enemies. It would have been unsafe for me. Wilt thou refresh early recollections now and hurriedly?”