over of thine will be upon us."

Brought back to the present and its portents, Eldris bent her head,
listening.

"Why, the cries have ceased," she said.

"Ay, this long time past," said Nicanor carelessly. "How much, think
you, human flesh and blood can stand?"

"Is he dead?" she asked, startled.

"I hope so!" said Nicanor. "Nay then, I do not care, which is nearer
truth. If I do not fear a fangless serpent in the grass, why should I
fear him?"

There was sudden movement behind the door; before either could think of
flight it opened, showing the room within. A still figure on the raised
slab of stone, for centre of the picture, with two half-stripped
Africans beside it; three figures coming doorward: and these were
Eudemius, and Marius, and the physician Claudius. Eudemius, his face
pinched and gray, leaned tottering with weakness on the arms of the
other two; behind them walked a slave with a great peacock fan, and
another slave was waiting at the door. At once Nicanor clapped his
hardened hand over the thin flame of the lamp on the shelf, and the
passage where they stood was plunged in darkness. Before the three lords
had reached the threshold, he had drawn the girl out of sight behind one
of the squat pillars of the passage. Perhaps no harm would come to them,
even were they discovered; but he had reasons for wishing to take no
chances. The three passed by unheeding, Eudemius stumbling and cursing
because the passage was dark. When they had gone, Nicanor went into the
room, where the slaves were busy. Eldris stood hesitating on the
threshold, afraid to enter, unwilling to go.

"He is dead, is he?" Nicanor asked, and went and stood over the broken
body on the stone slab.

One of the Africans grinned, showing strong white teeth beneath his
yellow turban.

"Our lord was a devil to-night," he said. "The madness was on him, and
he would have blood. But look you; here is a strange thing." With
ungentle hands he forced open the dead jaws, not yet stiffened in the
rigor of death. "Now sure this be a miracle, for mine own ears heard him
speak but yesterday."

"So?" said Nicanor, with lifted brows. "Now I should have said a week
ago, or maybe two. Ay, if you heard him speak yesterday, it was sure a
miracle. Likely he hath done something displeasing to his gods."

The slaves carried the limp body away, and others came and resanded the
floors.

The chamber was circular, of rough blocks of stone, with two doors.