gold.
Therefore, in this way or that, he must be humoured, as indeed we have
humoured him and his father for years, though now," he added, his brow
darkening, "he demands a price that I am loth to pay," and he glanced
towards his daughter, who stood watching them at a little distance,
looking most beautiful in her white robes and ornaments of gold.

"Can you not make war upon him, and break his power?" asked Aziel, with
a strange anxiety, guessing that this price demanded by Ithobal was none
other than Elissa, the woman whom he had rescued, and whose wisdom and
beauty had stirred his heart.

"It might be done, Prince, but the risk would be great, and we are here
to work the mines and grow rich in trade--not to make war. The policy of
Zimboe has always been a policy of peace."

"I have a better and cheaper plan," said a calm voice at his elbow--that
of Metem. "It is this: Slip a bow-string over the brute's head as he
lies snoring, and pull it tight. An eagle in a cage is easy to deal
with, but once on the wing the matter is different."

"There is wisdom in your counsel," said Sakon, in a hesitating voice.

"Wisdom!" broke in Aziel; "ay, the wisdom of the assassin. What, noble
Sakon, would you murder a sleeping guest?"

"No, Prince, I would not," he answered hastily; "also, such a deed would
bring the Tribes upon us."

"Then, Sakon, you are more foolish than you used to be," said Metem
laughing. "A man who will not despatch a foe, whenever he can catch him,
by means fair or foul, is not the man to govern a rich city set in the
heart of a barbarous land, and so I shall tell Hiram, our king, if ever
I live to see Tyre again. As for you, most high Prince, forgive the
humblest of your servants if he tells you that the tenderness of your
heart and the nobility of your sentiments will, I think, bring you to
an early and evil end;" and, glancing towards Elissa as though to put a
point upon his words, Metem smiled sarcastically and withdrew.

At this moment a messenger, whose long white hair, wild eyes and red
robe announced him to be a priest of El, by which name the people of
Zimboe worshipped Baal, entered the room, and whispered something into
the ear of Sakon which seemed to disturb him much.

"Pardon me, Prince, and you, my guests, if I leave you," said the
governor, "but I have evil tidings that call me to the temple. The lady
Baaltis is seized with the black fever, and I must visit her. For an
hour, farewell."