Hieyas showed nothing of the emotion which he felt on reading General Attiska's letter. He beckoned to several officers standing in the tent, and handed them the despatch. Then he turned to the messengers, saying: "Did Attiska give you a verbal message besides this letter?"
Before Raiden could answer, several men entered the tent.
"Master!" cried a soldier, "here are more messengers, all coming at the same moment from different points."
"Well! well!" said Hieyas, "let them come forward." One of the new-comers advanced and knelt. He carried something under his cloak.
"Illustrious lord," he said, in a firm, triumphant tone, "I come from the castle of Tosa. I bring you, in my master's name, the head of the Prince of Nagato."
This time Hieyas could not hide his emotion. His lips trembled; he extended his quivering hands with senile eagerness.
Raiden gave a start when he heard the messenger's words; but the Prince, with a sign, ordered him to be silent.
"I'm curious to see that head," muttered the sailor.
The man uncovered a bag of braided straw, closed at one end by a rope, and untied it.
Hieyas directed a lantern to be brought, saying: "Is it really true? is it really true? I cannot believe it."