Scarcely had he got off his fighting harness, so to speak, before he
found himself the object of marked attention by the nobility and
members of the court. Invitations from all sources were showered
upon him, and proud and influential houses, with rich heiresses to
represent them, were among those who sought to interest the
attention if not the heart of the young but rising soldier-he whom
the queen had so markedly befriended. Her majesty, too, seemed never
tired of interesting herself in his behalf, and already had several
delicate commissions been entrusted to his charge, and performed
with the success that seemed sure to crown his simplest efforts.
So far as courtesy required, Colonel Bezan responded to every
invitations and every extension of hospitality; but though beset by
such beauty as the veiled prophet of Khorassan tempted young Azim
with, still he passed unscathed through the trial of star-lit eyes
and female loveliness, always bending, but never breaking; for his
heart would still wander over the sea to the vision of her, who, to
him, was far more beautiful than aught his fancy had pictured, or
his eyes had seen. All seemed to feel that some tender secret
possessed him, and all were most anxious as to what it was.
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