“All things are possible, and if this be possible, then more than Cleopatra lost for Antony I will win for you, and you shall reign sole Cæsar of a subject world. As for me, when that comes to pass, let it be to me as it shall seem good in the eyes of my lord the King!” And so saying she bowed slightly before him and turned and passed out of the saloon, seeing the vision of him whom she had loved in vain through the mist of tears which rose in that instant to her eyes. CHAPTER XVIII. A MOMENTOUS COMMISSION. TWELVE hours after they had left the Sultan on the terrace of his palace, the _Ithuriel_ and the _Vindaya_ dropped through the clouds on to the snow-covered surface of Kerguelen Island, and within an hour the despatch-vessel _Vega_ was speeding away north-westward to Aeria with a full account of the results achieved by the first cruise of the _Ithuriel_. The twenty-four hours which would have to elapse before the reply of the Council could be received were employed in repairing the damage done to the _Vindaya_, and in renewing the motive-power and ammunition of both vessels. Sundry small but effective improvements in the mechanism and appointments of the _Vindaya_ were also made, and last, but by no means least important, the name of the prize was changed. “You are henceforth her commander, old fellow,” said Alan to Alexis when the question of the new name came up, “and therefore it is for you to say what her name shall be.” “I knew you would say that,” replied Alexis, his grave, thoughtful face lighting up with a quick flush and an almost boyish smile, “and, of course, I needn’t tell you what name I should like above all things to give her, but, then, you see”-- “I see nothing but a quite unaccountable embarrassment written largely upon those ingenuous features of yours, my blushing Achates,” interrupted Alan, with a laugh that deepened the color on his friend’s cheeks. “Well, you see, I’m not quite sure whether she would like it under the circumstances,” said Alexis hesitatingly. “I didn’t know that air-ships had any choice in the question of their names any more than children have,” said Alan, gravely stroking his beard and looking at his friend with a laugh in his eyes. “Don’t assume a density that the gods have not given you,” laughed Alexis in return. “You know very well who the she is to whom I refer. Now, suppose you were going to name and command the _Vindaya_, what would you call her?” “I would do as you want to do, my friend,” said Alan, laughing outright now, “although, I fear, with more chance of getting snubbed for my temerity, and trust to winning forgiveness from the lips of her name-mother by good service and hard hitting.”