ut
with bribery, and is, therefore, void, as she was not chosen by the pure
and unassisted will of the goddess."

"But," said Aziel, "she is my wife according to their religious law; how
then can she be given in marriage to another?"

"Nay, Prince, if she is not the lady Baaltis your husbandship falls to
the ground with the rest, for you are not the Shadid, an office with
which perchance you can dispense. But all this priestly juggling means
little, the truth being that the city in its terror is ready to throw
her--or for the matter of that, Baaltis herself if they could lay hands
on her--as a sop to Ithobal, hoping thereby to appease his rage. The
lady Elissa knows her danger--but here she comes to speak for herself."

As he spoke the curtains at the end of the chamber were drawn, and
through them came Elissa, clad in her splendid robes of office and
wearing upon her brow the golden crescent of the moon.

"How goes it with the prince, Metem?" she asked in her soft voice,
glancing anxiously towards the couch which was half-hidden in the shadow
of the wall.

"Look for yourself, lady," answered the Phoenician bowing before her.

"Elissa, Elissa!" cried Aziel, raising himself and opening his arms.

She saw and heard, then, with a low cry, she ran swiftly to him and was
wrapped in his embrace. Thus they stayed a while, murmuring words of
love and greeting.

"Is it your pleasure that I should leave you?" asked Metem presently.
"No? Then, Prince, I would have you remember that you are still very
weak and should not give way to violent emotions."

"Listen, Aziel," said Elissa, untwining his arms from about her neck,
"there is no time for tenderness; moreover, you should show none to one
who, in name at least, is still the high-priestess of Baaltis, though
in truth she worships her no longer. It was noble of you indeed to offer
incense upon the altar of El that my life might be saved. But when I
prayed you not, I spoke from the heart, and bitterly, bitterly do I
grieve that for my sake you should have stained your hands with such
a sin. Moreover, it will avail nothing, for the doom of the prophet
Issachar lies upon us, and I cannot escape from death, neither can you
escape remorse, and as I think, that worst of all desires--the desire
for the dead."

"Can we not still flee the city?" asked Aziel.

"Metem will tell you that it is impossible; day and night I am watched
and guarded, yes, Mesa dogs me from door to door