He broke off abruptly,—­a distant clatter of horses’ hoofs was heard, as of one galloping at full speed.  The soldiers started, and assumed an attitude of attention,—­their leader muttered something like an oath, and seizing Alwyn by the arm, hurried him to the brass gates which, as he had said, stood open, and literally thrust him through.

“In, in, my lad!” he urged with rough kindliness,—­“Thou hast a face fairer than that of the King’s own minstrel, and why wouldst thou die for sake of an extra cup of wine?  If Lysia is to blame for this scattering of thy wits, take heed thou do not venture near her more—­it is ill jesting with the Serpent’s sting!  Get thee hence quickly, and be glad of thy life,—­thou hast many years before thee yet in which to play the lover and fool!”

With this enigmatical speech he signed to his men to follow him,—­ they all filed through the gates, which closed after them with a jarring clang, ... a dark bearded face peered out of a narrow loophole in one of the watch-towers, and a deep voice called: 

“What of the hour?”

The officer raised his gauntleted hand, and answered promptly: 

“Peace and safety!”

“Salutation!” cried the voice again.

“Salutation!” responded the officer, and with a reassuring nod and smile to the bewildered Alwyn, he gathered his little band around him, and they all marched off, the measured clink-clank of their footsteps making metallic music, as they wheeled round a corner and disappeared from sight.

Left to himself Alwyn’s first idea was to sit down in some quiet corner, and endeavor calmly to realize what strange and cruel thing had chanced to him.  But happening to look up, he saw the bearded face in the watchtower observing him suspiciously,—­he therefore roused himself sufficiently to walk away, on and on, scarce heeding whither he went, till he had completely lost sight of those great gold-glittering portals which had shut him, against his will, within the walls of a large, splendid, and populous City.  Yes! ... hopelessly perplexing and maddening as it was, there could be no doubt of this fact,—­and though he again and again tried to convince himself that he was laboring under some wild and exceptional hallucination, his senses all gave evidence of the actual reality of his situation,—­he felt, he moved, he heard, he saw, ... he was even beginning to be conscious of hunger, thirst, and fatigue.

The further he went, the more gorgeous grew the surroundings, . . his unguided steps wandered as it seemed, of their own accord, into wide streets, paved entirely with mosaics, and lined on both sides with lofty, picturesque, and palace-like buildings,—­he crossed and recrossed broad avenues, shaded by tall feathery palms, and masses of graceful flowering foliage,—­he passed rows upon rows of brilliant shops, whose frontages glittered with the most costly and beautiful wares of every description,—­and as he strolled about aimlessly, uncertain whither to go, he was constantly jostled by the pressing throngs of people that crowded the thoroughfares, all more or less apparently bent on pleasure, to judge from their animated countenances and frequent bursts of gay laughter.