v NIGHTING- 
respects to their new Emperor. The lackeys 
ran off to talk matters over, and the 
chamber-maids gave a great coffee-party. 
Cloth had been laid down in all the rooms 
nd corridors so as to deaden the sound of 
footsteps, so it was very, very quiet. But 
the Emperor was not dead yet. He lay 
stiff and pale in the rergeous bed with its 
velvet hangings anc heavy golden tassels. 
There was an open window high above 
him. and the moon streamed in upon the 
Emperor, and the artificial bird beside him. 
The poor Emperor could hardly breathe, 
he scemed to have a weight on his chest, 
he opened his eyes, and then he saw that it 
17