duct."

Then without more words he walked to his camp, the gates of which were
closed behind him.

*****

"Prince Aziel," said Sakon, as they went towards the city, "it is ill to
speak such words to an honoured guest, but it cannot be denied that you
bring much trouble on my head. Twice now you have nearly perished at
the hands of Ithobal, and should that chance, doubtless I must earn the
wrath of Israel. On your behalf, also, the city of Zimboe is this day
plunged into a war that well may be her last, since it is because you
have grown suddenly dear to her that my daughter has continued to refuse
the suit of Ithobal, and because of his outraged pride at this refusal
that he has raised up the nations against us. Prince, while you remain
in this city there is no hope of peace. Do not, therefore, hate me, your
servant, if I pray of you to leave us while there is yet time."

"Sakon," answered Aziel, "I thank you for your open speech, and will
pay you back in words as honest as your own. Gladly would I go, for here
nothing but sorrow has befallen me, were it not for one thing which to
you may seem little, but to me, and perhaps to another, is all in all. I
love your daughter as I have never loved a woman before, and as my mind
is to hers, so is hers to mine. How, then, can I go hence when the going
means that I must part from her for ever?"

"How can you stay here, Prince, when the staying means that you must
bring her to shame and death, and yourself with her? Say now, are you
prepared, for the sake of this maiden, to abandon the worship of your
fathers and to become the servant of El and Baaltis?"

"You know well that I am not so prepared, Sakon. For nothing that the
world could give me would I do this sin."

"Then, Prince, it is best that you should go, for that and no other is
the price you must pay if you would win my daughter Elissa. Should you
seek to do so by other means, I tell you that neither your high rank nor
the power of my rule and friendship, nor pity for your youth and hers,
can save you both from death, since to forgive you then would be to
bring down the wrath of its outraged gods upon Zimboe. Oh! Prince, for
your own sake and for the sake of her whom both you and I love thus
dearly, linger no longer in temptation, but turn your back upon it as a
brave man should, for so shall my blessing follow you to the grave and
your years be filled with honour."

Aziel covered his eyes with his hand, and tho