“This trick shall not benefit you, O Magians!” he shouted. “Prove to me that this is no delusion or death shall be your portion!”
“Demand of me any proof, O King!” responded the voice.
“Make your own proof!” retorted the King.
Again the derisive smile curled the devilish features of the apparition, while a shivering silence possessed the wondering guests, who looked from it to the King and from the King to it, astonished at the resemblance between them.
“At midnight, O King, last night,” said the apparition in a sepulchral tone, “I walked with you on the portico at the door of your bedroom and your thoughts were of your father and of your brother. Did you hear the whispering in the plane-tree? The thought then in your mind has been accomplished; and there comes hither the spirit of him that troubled you!”
The apparition seemed to turn about and look in fear to the north; then, suddenly, it faded away. A groan arose from the chief Magian. He stirred uneasily and turned his pallid face towards the north. His hands were clenched and he stared into space with terror-stricken gaze. Deathlike hush pervaded the great hall. Then slowly and waveringly there appeared in the place where the former apparition had stood a ghastly face; and it was the image of Bardya, the King’s brother. With fierce eyes it glared down upon the King; and it seemed that blood poured down over the forehead in a trickling stream from a deep cleft in the crown of its head.
A shriek of terrified anguish arose from the Princesses. A chorus of exclamations broke from the guests. The apparition suddenly disappeared. The King sat as if stunned for a moment, looking fixedly at the point where the apparition had been, while his face was contorted with fear and horror. The Magians silently dissolved their circle and quickly disappeared. The lights flared up as servants ran hither and thither relighting the candles. The King arose unsteadily. The guests arose and stood in their places while he wearily moved, or rather tottered, to the door by which he had entered, and disappeared. The sisters, supporting each other and weeping, left the room. The guests then broke into noisy comment and wonder and proceeded to fortify their shaken nerves with wine. Orthodox Persians muttered curses on all Magians. The unorthodox shook their heads and superstitiously resolved to make sacrifices on the morrow to the spirits of the hills and to the gods of the Magians. Arguments arose for and against Magism; but the advocates of that cult had the better of it, since as all had seen, it was capable of ocular demonstration. But the orthodox said it was the religion of devils; as for them, they would continue to worship the Good Spirit! Besides, the latter said, it was evident a fraud had been perpetrated, because Bardya, the King’s brother, had been at the feast well and alive. How could this apparition have been his ghost? In this argument they had the best of it. But they marveled at the King’s agitation.
CHAPTER XI
THE GREAT KING INTRODUCES A STRANGE CUSTOM
THE Great King was much shaken by the strange apparitions which the Magi had conjured up; but he assured himself that the whole performance had been trickery and he fiercely planned vengeance upon the performers. He had always boasted of his disbelief in gods and spirits, though puzzled sometimes at the magic of the fire-worshipers. This time, however, his gross nature had received a severe shock and while he awaited the return of Prexaspes that he might learn how his brother had been dealt with, he drank deep potations of soma and half-wished that his brother were indeed alive so that the horrid vision might be proven false. He paced back and forth impatiently in his apartments, while his servants stood without, breathlessly watching for every command lest in his present mood delay on their part would entail upon them grave consequences.
A horseman galloped through the silent city from the north shortly before daylight and, with a hasty word to a sleepy guard, passed through the walls into the park and thence to the stables at the rear of the palace. Leaving his horse in the care of servants, he entered the palace. It was Prexaspes. After a few minutes in his own apartments, he emerged clad in his elegant court dress and went to the King’s apartments, where he knew the King waited. A servant announced his presence and he was at once admitted to the King’s presence. He entered, closed the door behind him, and stood before the King with bowed head.