r the blush escaping the watchful
Ithobal.

Presently Sakon spoke:--

"King Ithobal," he said, "I am honoured indeed that you should seek my
daughter as your queen, but she is my only child, whom I love, and I
have sworn to her that I will not force her to marry against her will,
whoever be the suitor. Therefore, King, take your answer from her own
lips, for whatever it be it is my answer."

"Lady," said Ithobal, "you have heard your father's words; be pleased to
say that you look with favour upon my suit, and that you will deign to
share my throne and power."

Elissa took a step forward on the dais and curtseyed low before the
king.

"O King!" she said, "I am your handmaid, and great indeed is the favour
that you would do your servant. Yet, King, I Pray of you search out some
fairer woman of a more royal rank to share your crown and sceptre, for I
am all unworthy of them, and to those words on this matter which I
have spoken in past days I have none to add." Then again she curtseyed,
adding, "King, I am your servant."

Now a murmur of astonishment went up from the audience, for few of them
thought it possible that Elissa, who, however beautiful, was but the
daughter of a noble, could refuse to become the wife of a king. Ithobal
alone did not seem to be astonished, for he had expected this answer.

"Lady," he said, repressing with an effort the passions which were
surging within him, "I think that I have something to offer to the
woman of my choice, and yet you put me aside as lightly as though I had
neither name, nor power, nor station. This, as it seems to me, can be
read in one way only, that your heart is given elsewhere."

"Have it as you will, King," answered Elissa, "my heart is given
elsewhere."

"And yet, lady, not four suns gone you swore to me that you loved no
man. Since then it seems that you have learned to love, and swiftly,
and it is yonder Jew whom you have chosen." And he pointed to the prince
Aziel.

Again Elissa coloured, this time to the eyes, but she showed no other
sign of confusion.

"May the king pardon me," she said, "and may the prince Aziel, whose
name has thus been coupled with mine, pardon me. I said indeed that my
heart was given elsewhere, but I did not say it was given to any
man. May not the heart of a mortal maid-priestess be given to the
Ever-living?"

Now for a moment the king was silenced, while a murmur of applause at
her ready wit went round the audience. But befo