on, else nought were gained, yet must she not be chargeable
with forsaking her duties towards her husband and children. It follows that
she must be a widow. It were also well that she should be of kin to some
influential personage, to whose counsel she might have recourse in times of
difficulty, and whose authority might protect her against the slanderous
and evil disposed. I have not been able to meet any one endowed with all
these qualifications, excepting myself. I therefore propose to thee that
thou shouldst instruct me in the speech of Desmotes, and when I am
qualified to take thy place my uncle shall elevate thee to the dignity of
Abbess, or bestow thee upon some young clergyman of extraordinary desert."

Elenko intimated, perhaps with more warmth than necessary, her aversion to
both propositions, and the extreme improbability of the Princess ever
acquiring any knowledge of Greek by her instrumentality.

"If this is the case," said the Princess, with perfect calmness, "I must
have recourse to my other method, which is infallible."

Elenko inquired what it might be.

"I shall represent to my uncle, what indeed he very well knows, that a
saint is, properly speaking, of no value till he is dead. Not until his
decease are his relics available, or pilgrimages to his shrine feasible. It
is solely in anticipation of this event that my uncle is keeping Desmotes
at all; and the sooner it comes to pass, the sooner will my revered
relative come by his own. Only think of the capital locked up in the new
church, now so nearly completed, on the spot where they picked up the
eagle! How shall it be dedicated to Desmotes in Desmotes' lifetime? Were it
not a most blissful and appropriate coincidence if the day of the
consecration were that of the saint's migration to a better world? I shall
submit this view of the case to my uncle: he is accustomed to hear reason
from me, of whom, between ourselves, he is not a little afraid. Thou mayest
rely upon it that about the time of the consecration Desmotes will ascend
to heaven; while thou, it is gravely to be feared, wilt proceed in the
opposite direction. Would'st thou avert this unpleasantness, think well of
my first proposal. I give thee credit for loving Desmotes, and suppose,
therefore, that thou wilt make some sacrifice for his sake. I am a Kettle,
thou art a Pot. Take heed how thou knockest against me!"

Elenko sped back to bear tidings of the threatened collision to
Prometheu