--and I wore the crown with the sapphires and the big emerald in it, and the foreign prince said that I looked very sweet. [_The King, who has been smiling at Atharlia, gives a gracious nod to the Prophet when he hears him stop speaking. When the Queens see the King nod graciously, they applaud the Prophet by idly clapping their hands._ THIRD QUEEN Do ask him to make us another prophecy, Majesty! He is so interesting. He looks so clever. THE KING Prophesy unto us. THE PROPHET Thine armies camped upon thy mountainous borders descry no enemy in the plains afar. And within thy gates lurks he for whom thy sentinels seek upon lonely guarded frontiers. There is a fear upon me and a boding. Even yet there is time, even yet; but _little_ time. And my mind is dark with trouble for thy kingdom. QUEEN CAHAFRA (_to Queen Thragolind_) I do not like the way he does his hair. QUEEN THRAGOLIND It would be all right if he would only have it cut. THE KING (_to the Prophet, dismissing him with a nod of the head_) Thank you, that has been very interesting. QUEEN THRAGOLIND How clever he is! I wonder how he thinks of things like that? QUEEN CAHAFRA Yes, but I hate a man who is conceited about it. Look how he wears his hair. QUEEN THRAGOLIND Yes, of course, it is perfectly dreadful. QUEEN CAHAFRA Why can't he wear his hair like other people, even if he does say clever things? QUEEN THRAGOLIND Yes, I hate a conceited man.[1] [Footnote 1: It is not necessary for the prophet's hair to be at all unusual.] [_Enter an Attendant. He bows before the idol, then kneels to the King._ THE ATTENDANT The guests are all assembled in the Chamber of Banquets. [_All rise. The Queens walk two abreast to the Chamber of Banquets._ QUEEN ATHARLIA (_to Queen Oxara_) What was he talking about? QUEEN OXARA He was talking about the armies on the frontier. QUEEN ATHARLIA Ah! That reminds me of that young captain in the Purple Guard. They say that he loves Linoora. QUEEN OXARA Oh, Thearkos! Linoora probably said that. [_When the Queens come to the doorway they halt on each side of it. Then they turn facing one another. Then the King leaves his throne and passes between them into the Chamber of Banquets, each couple courtseying low to him as he passes. The Queens follow, then the attendants. There rises the wine-song, the chant of the nobles, drowning the chant of the low-born. Only the Idol-Guard remains behind, still kneeling beside Illuriel._ THE IDOL-GUARD I do not like those things the Prophet said--It would be terrible if they were true--It would be very terrible if they were false, for he prophesies in the name of Illuriel--Ah! They are singing the wine-song, the chant of the nobles. The Queens are singing. How merry they are!--I should like to be a noble and sit and look at the Queens. (_He joins in the song_) THE VOICE OF A SENTINEL Guard, turn out. (_The wine-song still continues_) THE VOICE OF ONE HAVING AUTHORITY