Thencamemoredignitaries，andtheofficersofthepalaceandofthearmy，andfinallytwofiguresentirelymuffledinscarletsilk，sothatnotafeatureofeitherwasdiscernible。
Thesetwostoppedatthefootofthethrone，facingThanKosis。WhenthebalanceoftheprocessionhadenteredandassumedtheirstationsThanKosisaddressedthecouplestandingbeforehim。Icouldnothearhiswords，butpresentlytwoofficersadvancedandremovedthescarletrobefromoneofthefigures，andIsawthatKantosKanhadfailedinhismission，foritwasSabThan，PrinceofZodanga，whostoodrevealedbeforeme。
ThanKosisnowtookasetoftheornamentsfromoneofthesalversandplacedoneofthecollarsofgoldabouthisson\'sneck，springingthepadlockfast。AfterafewmorewordsaddressedtoSabThanheturnedtotheotherfigure，fromwhichtheofficersnowremovedtheenshroudingsilks，disclosingtomynowcomprehendingviewDejahThoris，PrincessofHelium。
Theobjectoftheceremonywascleartome；inanothermomentDejahThoriswouldbejoinedforevertothePrinceofZodanga。Itwasanimpressiveandbeautifulceremony，Ipresume，buttomeitseemedthemostfiendishsightI
hadeverwitnessed，andastheornamentswereadjusteduponherbeautifulfigureandhercollarofgoldswungopeninthehandsofThanKosisIraisedmylong-swordabovemyhead，and，withtheheavyhilt，Ishatteredtheglassofthegreatwindowandsprangintothemidstoftheastonishedassemblage。WithaboundIwasonthestepsoftheplatformbesideThanKosis，andashestoodrivetedwithsurpriseIbroughtmylong-sworddownuponthegoldenchainthatwouldhaveboundDejahThoristoanother。