either side of her, seated on the ground, were young girls
gorgeously clad and veiled to the eyes in the Egyptian fashion,
and as the staring, heated and impetuous swarm of "travelling"
English and Americans came face to face with her in her marvellous
beauty, they were for the moment stricken spellbound, and could
scarcely summon up the necessary assurance to advance and take the
hand she outstretched to them in welcome. She appeared not to see
the general embarrassment, and greeted all who approached her with
courteous ease and composure, speaking the few words which every
graceful hostess deems adequate before "passing on" her visitors.
And presently music began,--music wild and fantastic, of a
character unknown to modern fashionable ears, yet strangely
familiar to Armand Gervase, who started at the first sound of it,
and seemed enthralled.

"That is not an ordinary orchestra," said Dr. Dean in his ear.
"The instruments are ancient, and the form of melody is barbaric."

Gervase answered nothing, for the Princess Ziska just then
approached them.

"Come into the Red Saloon," she said. "I am persuading my guests
to pass on there. I have an old bas-relief on the walls which I
would like you to see,--you, especially, Dr. Dean!--for you are so
learned in antiquities. I hear you are trying to discover traces
of Araxes?"

"I am," replied the Doctor. "You interested me very much in his
history."