ing well-nigh
dazed with fear, had no better sense than to spring up, crying, 'Where?'
And no priest was there at all; but the instant my hands were off the
cross that man seized me and ran, and all the crowd ran after to see
what might happen next, some saying it was not just, and others finding
it rare good sport. At the river he thrust me into a boat and gave the
man money to row quickly; and since their sport was over, the people
went away. It did not take long." She looked at him with quickened
interest, and in her face also there was new thought.

"So--art thou, then, that teller of tales, whom men call Nicanor of the
silver tongue?"

Nicanor laughed again, but softly, all the hardness gone from his grim
face, his eyes shining oddly. Did they indeed call him that?

"I am Nicanor," he said. His quick ears caught a step approaching from
the inner rooms. "Some one comes!" he said warningly, and added, "It is
heavy; let me take it to the door."

He picked up the brazier and carried it to the door. Eldris followed,
her steps lagging.

"I will wait near until thy duty here is ended," he said in a rapid
undertone. "None shall touch thee this night, I promise thee. As for
to-morrow--well, to-morrow is to-morrow, and there is small use in
worrying to-day."

She flashed a glance of gratitude at him and took the brazier. It was
too heavy for her, but she staggered bravely with it across the
threshold, and the curtains fell behind her. Nicanor heard Nerissa's
sharp voice from within.

"Why so long, girl? Bring it quickly--thy lady's feet are chilled."

Nicanor lingered a moment, his eyes on the hidden entrance, and turned
and went out with his long and cat-like stride.

In the courtyard one ran against him in the darkness and cursed him
soundly. Nicanor, recognizing the ring of Hito's eloquence, halted and
waited for what might come. Hito, in his turn, recognized him, and
changed his tone.

"So, thou? In the dark I did not know thee. Didst find the girl?"

"Ay, I found her," Nicanor answered with indifference. "But she is on
duty to-night with our lady, and knows not when she can get away." He
gave a short laugh. "Truly, Hito--since this is not official!--I had
thought thee with an eye for woman-flesh as keen as the best. But
that!--At first I doubted mine own eyes, that thou hadst singled out
such an one for thy favor, when there be others whose better no man
could wish. What one can see in long sulky eyes, a g