ich I alone am
trusted to offer him at the Imperial banquet where thou wilt be present.
Thou shalt see his agonies and my triumph, and rejoice that thy friend has
known how to avenge herself.'

"Thou seest now, father, in how frightful a difficulty I am placed. All my
entreaties and remonstrances have been in vain: at my threats Helladia
merely laughs. I love Basil with my whole heart. Shall I look on and see
him murdered? Shall I, having first unwittingly done my friend the most
grievous injury, proceed further to betray her, and doom her to a cruel
death? I might anticipate her fell purpose by slaying her, but for that I
have neither strength nor courage. Many a time have I felt on the point of
revealing everything to her, and offering myself as her victim, but for
this also I lack fortitude. I might convey a warning to Basil, but
Helladia's vengeance is unsleeping, and nothing but her death or mine will
screen him. Oh, father, father! what am I to do?"

"Nothing romantic or sentimental, I trust, dear child," replied Photinius.

"Torture me not, father. I came to thee for counsel."

"And counsel shalt thou have, but it must be the issue of mature
deliberation. Thou mayest observe," continued he with the air of a good man
contending with adversity, "how weak and miserable is man's estate even in
the day of good fortune, how hard it is for purblind mortals to discern the
right path, especially when two alluring routes are simultaneously
presented for their decision! The most obvious and natural course, the one
I should have adopted without hesitation half-an-hour ago, would be simply
to let Helladia alone. Should she succeed--and Heaven forbid else!--the
knot is loosed in the simplest manner. Basil dies--"

"Father!"

"I am a favourite with his sister-in-law," continued Photinius, entirely
unconscious of his daughter's horror and agitation, "who will govern in the
name of her weak husband, and is moreover thy mistress. She recalls me to
Court, and all is peace and joy. But then, Helladia may fail. In that case,
when she has been executed--"

"Father, father!"

"We are exactly where we were, save for the hold thou hast established over
the Emperor, which is of course invaluable. I cannot but feel that Heaven
is good when I reflect how easily thou mightest have thrown thyself away
upon a courtier. Now there is a much bolder game to play, which, relying on
the protection of Providence, I feel half disposed to atte