palace at Jerusalem, 'To others, men of
war, I have given charge of the body of my grandson to keep him safe. To
you, Issachar the Levite, who have fostered him, I give charge over
his soul to keep it safe--a higher task, and more difficult. Guard him,
Issachar, from the temptation of strange doctrines and the whisperings
of strange gods, but guard him most of all from the wiles of strange
women who bow the knee to Baal, for such are the gate of Gehenna upon
earth, and those who enter by it shall find their place in Tophet.'"

"Truly my grandsire speaks wisely on this matter as on all others,"
answered Aziel, "but still I do not understand."

"Then I will be more clear, Prince. How comes it that I find you
alone with this beautiful sorceress, this worshipper of the she-devil,
Baaltis, with whom you should scorn even to speak, except such words as
courtesy demands?"

"Is it then forbidden to me," asked Aziel angrily, "to talk with the
daughter of my host, a lady whom I chanced to save from death, of the
customs of her country and the mysteries of worship?"

"The mysteries of worship!" answered Issachar scornfully. "Ay! the
mysteries of the worship of that fair body of hers, that ivory chalice
filled with foulness--whereof, if a man drink, his faith shall be rotted
and his soul poisoned. The mysteries of that worship was it, Prince,
that caused you but now to lean towards this woman as though to embrace
her, with words of love burning in your heart if not between your lips?
Ah! these witches of Baaltis know their trade well; they are full of
evil gifts, and of the wisdom given to them by the fiend they serve.
With touch and sigh and look they can stir the blood of youth, having
much practice in the art, till it seethes within the veins and drowns
conscience in its flood.

"Nay, Prince, hear the truth," continued Issachar. "Till moonrise you
had never seen this woman, and now your quick blood is aflame, and you
love her. Deny it if you can--deny it on your honour and I will believe
you, for you are no liar."

Aziel thought for a moment and answered:--

"Issachar, you have no right to question me on this matter, yet since
you have adjured me by my honour, I will be open with you. I do not know
if I love this woman, who, as you say, is a stranger to me, but it
is true that my heart turns towards her like flowers to the sun. Till
to-day I had never seen her, yet when my eyes first fell upon her face
yonder in that acc