The King Orgulous 263

are twins. With a slow and audible draw-
ing of the breath the Archbishop took up
again the words of the ritual, and neither
looked at the other any more at that time.

Now, having been crowned and conse-
crated, Talisso ascended the steps in front
of the altar, and, drawing the huge blade
from its sheath, lunged with it four times
into the air —once to the north and once to
the south, once to the east and once to the
west. Sheathing the sword, he descended,
and walking to the western portal mounted
his war-horse, and paced slowly down the
street, followed by a brilliant cavalcade, to
the Mound of Coronation.

Urging his steed up the ascent, he drew
rein on the summit,:and once more bared
the holy brand, and, wheeling to the four
quarters of heaven, thrust it into the air in
token of lordship and power inalienable ;
and when he rode down the Mound to his
people a great cry was raised in greeting,
and four pigeons were loosed. High they
flew in circles overhead, and, each choosing
his own airt, darted out to the four regions
of the world to bear the news of that
crowning.