66 LITERATURE. 



"Thy speech is worthy of a God," quoth Tiniu, and turning towards his attendants 

 he said to them, " Let War be informed that I want him at once. As for you, my faithful 

 followers, remember that I am the principle of Justice. I shall judge in a calm and equitable 

 manner, and punish with all the energy of my weighty power . . ." 



" By the light of the stars all the birds are grey," so were the shapes of his followers 

 gathered round the throne of Timu, and instead of an assembly of Powers surrounding 

 their God, they might in the twilight have been taken for a crowd of conspirators, the voices 

 raised finding no echo, and their actual vibration being, as it were, deadened l)y the mist 

 in wdiich they were dragging out their existence. 



Suddenly, a thrill, which rushed like a flash of lightning through all present, announced 

 the approach of War, and as he entered the circle, aspects and countenances assumed another 

 hue. 



After having taken in at a glance the whole of the assembly, in which young and old 

 seemed alike yellow with jealousy and troubled under his radiant gaze, he instantly directed 

 his steps towards his father, and bending respectfully asked him his pleasure. 



" My pleasure," said Timu, " is that thou shouldest give a public account of thy conduct, 

 and apologise to those powers that be, which have been scandalised, insulted, even endangered 

 by thy criminal doings. Tremble and prostrate thyself in repentance and await, not only 

 my reproof, but the chastisement which must be proportionate, not alone to the offence, but 

 to the rank of the offender ; it becomes the great, it is an inviolable duty for those placed by 

 birth in exalted positions to show their respect and submission to the established laws and 

 powers which have l)een from time immemorial the objects of veneration and awe. Whoso- 

 ever fails to obey, maintain, and help to carry out the time-honoured orders established by 

 me, it were better for that one that he had never been born to the light of my bounties." 



" My father ! Reverend Timu ! God ! I cannot understand thine anger, my most 

 cherished dream is never to have done anything derogatory to my birth, never to have 

 committed any act which might expose me to thy reproof, the cruellest and most terrible 

 misfortune which could befall a son." 



" War cowers," whispered Poura to the young Paouri, and the lireath of a sneer ran 

 through all the crowd. 



War heard it. He felt it from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head, and a slight 

 flush appeared on his forehead, but with his eyes intently fixed on his okl father he remained 

 motionless, waiting in all humility. 



Emboldened by his humble attitude, all the courtiers and followers of Timu from the 

 first to the last, all his brethren from the eldest to the youngest, gave vent to a storm of 

 sarcasms, insults, and accusations, embodying all the concentrated venom which might be 

 found in the scarlet gums of all the snakes of the creation. At last they had the bt'st of War. 

 His own father was sitting in judgment on him, and they were going, if not to hear the last 

 of him, at least to see him crushed in such a way that it would be impossible for him to again 

 disturb their quiet, to interfere in any way with eternal order, the administration of which 

 would be granted to them for ever. 



Under the shock of this volley of insults, War showetl not the slightest sign of emotion, 

 still looking fixedly at his father he stood the attack as a God, and waited till the gibes and 

 sneers had subsided, Timu having made a sign that he wished to speak. 



" Hast thou heard thine accusers? " quoth Timu in a solemn tone. " W'hat hast thou 

 to answer? Speak ! " 



" My father," answered War gravely, " thou art God, and I am thy son, thine obedient 

 son and humble one. If I have sinned against thee, if I have forgotten my birth and the duties 

 I have to fulfil, 1 am answerable to thee, to thee alone, my Father and my God." 



" Thou didst not answer, War, and I fear that thou hast set thy hceirt to resist my will." 



" Father, never has such thought entered my mind, but rather than degrade my 

 nature and stoop to answer those wild beasts 1 would c Jioose never to have l)een. Ask of 



