is, if they guard their tongues,
and do nothing to offend."

"Then I desire to see them, Metem, and so doubtless does the prince
Aziel. Therefore, if it is your will, do me the service to enter his
chamber in the palace where he is sitting, and bid him to a great
ceremony that goes forward in the temple. And, Metem, if he asks
what that ceremony is, I charge you, say only that a dove is to be
sacrificed.

"I will wait for you at the gate of the temple, but do not tell him that
I send you on this errand. Metem, you love gain; remember that if you
humour me in this and other matters which may arise, doing my bidding
faithfully, I have the treasury of Jerusalem to draw upon."

"No ill paymaster," replied Metem cheerfully. "Certainly I will obey you
in all things, holy Issachar, as the king commanded me yonder in Judea."

"Now," he reflected to himself, as he went upon his message, "I see how
the bird flies. The prince Aziel is in love with the lady Elissa, or far
upon the road to it, as at his age it is right and proper that he should
be, after a twelve months' journey by sea and land with never a pretty
face to sigh for. The holy Issachar, on the other hand, is minded that
his charge shall have naught to do with a priestess of Baaltis, as, his
age and calling considered, is also right and proper. Then there is that
black savage Ithobal, who wishes to win the girl, and the girl herself,
who after the fashion of her sex, will probably play them all off one
against the other. Well, so much the better for me, since I shall be a
richer man even than I am before this affair is done with. I have two
hands, and gold is gold whoever be the giver," and smiling craftily to
himself Metem passed into the palace.

CHAPTER V

THE PLACE OF SACRIFICE

Suddenly Aziel, looking up from his reverie, saw the Phoenician bowing
before him, cap in hand.

"May the Prince live for ever," he said, "yet if he suffer melancholy to
overcome him thus, his life, however long, will be but sad."

"I was only thinking, Metem," answered Aziel with a start.

"Of the lady Elissa, whom you rescued, Prince? Ah! I guessed as much.
She is beautiful, is she not--I have never seen the equal of those
dreamy eyes and that mysterious smile--and learned also, though myself,
in a woman I prefer the beauty without the learning. It is a pity now
that she should chance to be a priestess of our worship, for that will
not please the holy Issachar whom, I fear