Red and white lines mingled with the pockmarks, and his misshapen body seemed to writhe like a snake under the goad of his malicious thoughts. He was growing noisy and boisterous; so much so that his companions tried to prevent him from approaching the bride, but he angrily refused to heed them. “Come on!” he loudly proclaimed. “She is a discarded love of mine, who still adores me. Come on, and I will prove her! She shall give _me_ her wedding ring—the one Orondo made with his own hands!” Ben Hu Barabe, Hanabusa, Yermah and Cezardis closed in around him, but he broke away from their restraint and boldly bantered Ildiko for an exchange of rings. He had the face of a fiend, as he said: “Wilt thou not, for old times’ sake, give me one of thy little rings in return for one of mine? Choose among these,” he continued, holding up a hand loaded with beautiful gems, quaintly set. She looked at him unsteadily, simpered foolishly and was about to make some maudlin reply, when Orondo, white with anger, whispered to her: “Make the exchange quickly. Thou art under observation.” Startled by his tone, and only half-comprehending the situation, Ildiko slipped off her wedding ring, a flat silver band covered with an intricate gold interlaced filigree. Without looking at it, she handed it to Alcamayn, receiving from him a diamond marquise for her little finger. “What did I tell thee!” cried the hunchback triumphantly. “Thou knowest the pledge that goes with this? Poor Orondo! I envy thee not!” Alcamayn turned with a sneer on his ugly face, just as Orondo, who had risen, made a pass at him with his sword. The weapon went wide of its mark, but the outraged husband lurched forward, and fell heavily to the floor, before the horrified spectators could offer assistance. Yermah raised the fallen head, and as he did so blood spurted from the half-open mouth. Orondo groaned and shivered. His breath came in one stertorous gasp, and all was still. “It is death!” cried Yermah, in alarm, “death, sudden and terrible! My poor friend!” he repeated, as Setos leaned over and peered into the ashen countenance. Hanabusa hustled Alcamayn roughly, but held him in a vise-like grip. “Thou art a murderer,” he exclaimed, “and must answer well for this! Thou art my prisoner!” The high-priest, Imos, assisted Yermah to lift the dead man, and Setos stood near Ildiko. The bride was still toying with Alcamayn’s ring, and giggling hideously to herself, utterly unconscious of the tragedy being enacted before her. Rahula fluttered between the two principals. She could not comprehend what had happened, and began to shriek hysterically when iron bands were placed on Alcamayn’s neck and wrists. The panic-stricken guests departed hurriedly, while warriors surrounded the house, and no one was allowed to enter under any pretext whatever. All eye-witnesses were put under oath, and an armed guard soon filled the room.