"
"I come to request instant speech with you--instant--and touching
matters of deep interest."
"First look on my wife, Hakim, and let her know in you the
preserver of her husband."
"It is not for me," said the physician, folding his arms with an
air of Oriental modesty and reverence, and bending his eyes on
the ground--"it is not for me to look upon beauty unveiled, and
armed in its splendours."
"Retire, then, Berengaria," said the Monarch; "and, Edith, do you
retire also;--nay, renew not your importunities! This I give to
them that the execution shall not be till high noon. Go and be
pacified--dearest Berengaria, begone.--Edith," he added, with a
glance which struck terror even into the courageous soul of his
kinswoman, "go, if you are wise."
The females withdrew, or rather hurried from the tent, rank and
ceremony forgotten, much like a flock of wild-fowl huddled
together, against whom the falcon has made a recent stoop.
They returned from thence to the Queen's pavilion to indulge in
regrets and recriminations, equally unavailing.
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