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Rh she exclaimed, "only a short time since, and they asked me the same question."

One of Hamadalban’s women voiced a little scream. "They passed through our quarters but a moment since," she cried, "and entered Kalfastoban’s, but they asked not where lay the quarters of Kalfastoban, the name they mentioned was unknown to me—a strange name."

"Palastokar," one of her companions reminded her.

"Yes, Palastokar, and they said he had his quarters upon the gallery leading from Kalfastoban’s to the outer corridor."

"There is no one of such a name in the Royal Dome," said Kalfastoban. "It was but a ruse to enter my quarters."

"Or to pass through them," suggested one of the quarry guard.

"We must hurry after them," said the other.

"Keep Caraftap here until we return, Kalfasto­ban," said the first guard, "and also search your own quarters and those adjoining carefully. Come!" and motioning to the other guard he crossed the chamber and departed along the gal­lery that led to the outer corridor, followed not alone by his fellow but by Hamadalban and all the other men who had congregated in the cham­ber, leaving Kalfastoban and Caraftap, with the women, in the Ventai’s quarters.