split itself with the violence of its fall into two huge desolate-looking fragments, which now lay one on each side of the square, as though flung thither by a Titan’s hand,—­the great lion had been hurled from its position and overturned like a toy, while the shield it had supported between its paws had entirely disappeared in minutely scattered atoms, . . the fountains had altogether ceased playing.  Now and then a thin, vaporous stream of smoke appeared to issue between the crannies of the pavement,—­ otherwise there was no visible sign of the mysterious force that had wrought so swift and sudden a work of destruction,—­the sun shone brilliantly, and over all the havoc beamed the placid brightness of a cloudless summer sky!

The most prominent object of all amid the general devastation, and the one that fascinated Theos more than the view of the destroyed monolith and the debased Lion, was the uninjured head of the Prophet Khosrul.  There it lay, exactly between the sundered halves of the Obelisk, . . pale rays of light glimmered on its bloodstained silvery hair and open glazed eyes,—­a solemn smile seemed graven on its waxen-pallid features.  And at a little distance off, on the breast of the black-robed headless corpse that remained totally uncrushed in an open space by itself, among the surrounding heaps of slain and wounded, glistened the cross like a fiery gem, . . an all-significant talisman that, as he beheld it, filled Theos’s heart with a feverish craving,—­an inexplicable desire mingled with remorse far greater than any fear!

Instinctively he drew Sah-luma away. ... away! ... still keeping his wistful gaze fixed on that uncomprehended, yet soul-recognized Symbol, till gradually the drooping branches of trees interrupted and shadowed the vista, and, as he moved further and further backward, closed their soft network of green foliage like the closing curtain on the strange but awfully remembered scene, shutting it out from his bewildered sight.. forever!

CHAPTER XXV.

A golden tress.

Once clear of the Square the two friends apparently became mutually conscious of the peril they had just escaped, . . and coming to a sudden standstill they looked at each other in blank, stupefied silence.  Crowds of people streamed past them, wandering hither and thither in confused, cloudy masses,—­some with groans and dire lamentations bearing away their dead and wounded,—­others rushing frantically about, beating their breasts, tearing their hair, calling on the gods and lamenting Khosrul, while not a few muttered curses on the King.  And ever and anon the name of “Lysia,” coupled with heavy execrations, was hissed from mouth to mouth, which Theos, overhearing, began to foresee might serve as a likely cause for Sah-luma’s taking offence and possibly resenting in his own person this public disparagement of the woman he loved,—­therefore, without more ado he roused himself from his momentarily dazed condition, and urged his comrade on at a quick pace toward the safe shelter of his own palace, where at any rate he could be kept out of the reach of immediate harm.