member of the Priests' Clan forgotten his sacred
vows, and babbled to this woman matters concerning the holy mysteries?
Or had Phorenice discovered a key to these mysteries with her own agile
brain?

If that last was the case, I could continue to serve her with silent
conscience. Though she might be none of my making, at least she was
Empress, and it was my duty to give her obedience. But if she had
suborned some weaker member of the Clan on the Sacred Mount, that would
be a different matter. For be it remembered that it was one of the
elements of our constitution to preserve our secrets and mysteries
inviolate, and to pursue with undying hatred both the man who had dared
to betray them, and the unhappy recipient of his confidence.

It was with very undecided feelings, then, that I obeyed the summons of
the earth-shaking, and bade the slaves lead me through the windings of
the pyramid to the great banqueting-hall. The scene there was dazzling.
The majestic chamber with its marvellous carvings was filled with a
company decked out with all the gauds and colours that fancy could
conceive. Little recked they of the solemn portent which had summoned
them to the meal, of the death and misery that stalked openly through
the city wards without, of the rebels which lay in leaguer beyond the
walls, of the neglected Gods and their clan of priests on the Sacred
Mountain. They were all gluttonous for the passions of the moment; it
was their fashion and conceit to look at nothing beyond.

Flaming jets of earth-breath lit the great hall to the brightness of
midday; and when I stepped out upon the pavement, trumpets blared, so
that all might know of my coming. But there was no roar of welcome.
"Deucalion," they lisped with mincing voices, bowing themselves
ridiculously to the ground so that all their ornaments and silks might
jangle and swish. Indeed, when Phorenice herself appeared, and all
sent up their cries and made lawful obeisance, there was the same
artificiality in the welcome. They meant well enough, it is true;
but this was the new fashion. Heartiness had come to be accounted a
barbarism by this new culture.

A pair of posturing, smirking chamberlains took me in charge, and
ushered me with their flimsy golden wands to the dais at the farther
end. It appeared that I was to sit on Phorenice's divan, and eat my meat
out of her dish.

"There is no stint to the honour the Empress puts upon me," I said, as I
knelt down and t