hall I point a finger at you, and
smite your pretty skin with a sudden leprosy?"

The girl bowed her shoulders, and went away cowed, and Phorenice turned
to me. "My lord," she said, "I am like a young bird in the nest that has
suddenly found its wings. Wings have so many uses that I am curious to
try them all."

"May each new flight they take be for the good of Atlantis."

"Oh," she said, with an eye-flash, "I know what you have most at heart.
But we will go back to the pyramid, and talk this out at more leisure. I
pray you now, my lord, conduct me back to my riding beast."

It appeared then that I was to be condoned for not offering her worship,
and so putting public question on her deification. It appeared also that
Ylga's interference was looked upon as untimely, and, though I could not
understand the exact reasons for either of these things, I accepted
them as they were, seeing that they forwarded the scheme that Zaemon had
bidden me carry out.

So when the Empress lent me her fingers--warm, delicate fingers they
were, though so skilful to grasp the weapons of war--I took them
gravely, and led her out of the great circle, which she had polluted
with her trickeries. I had expected to see our Lord the Sun take
vengeance on the profanation whilst it was still in act; but none had
come: and I knew that He would choose his own good time for retribution,
and appoint what instrument He thought best, without my raising a puny
arm to guard His mighty honour.

So I led this lovely sinful woman back to the huge red mammoth which
stood there tamely in waiting, and the smell of the sacrifice came
after us as we walked. She mounted the stair to the golden castle on the
shaggy beast's back, and bade me mount also and take seat beside her.
But the place of the fan-girl behind was empty, and what we said as we
rode back through the streets there was none to overhear.

She was eager to know what had befallen me after the attack on the gate,
and I told her the tale, laying stress on the worthiness of Nais,
and uttering an opinion that with care the girl might be won back to
allegiance again. Only the commands that Zaemon laid upon me when he
and I spoke together in the sacred tongue, did I withhold, as it is
not lawful to repeat these matters save only in the High Council of the
Priests itself as they sit before the Ark of the Mysteries.

"You seem to have an unusual kindliness for this rebel Nais," said
Phorenice.

"She sh