t the head was entirely out of proportion with the
paw; and yet, if the former were larger or the latter smaller, surely
they would not fit well in the places they were intended to ornament.
What a provoking dilemma, to be sure--and at such a time, for, glancing
suddenly up, she saw Iddilcar's dark, repulsive features bent upon her
with a terrible intentness. All her former loathing surged back over
her heart with tenfold force, sickening her with its suffocating weight.

"Light of the two eyes of Baal," he murmured softly. "Look kindly upon
thy servant. Smile upon his love, that thy light and his worship may
be eternal. Behold! for thee I cast aside the worship of the lord
Melkarth!"

He tore apart his long, violet tunic, showing his throat and bosom hung
with necklaces. His arms, bare to the shoulders, glittered with heavy
bracelets.

"Lo! the spoils of Italy assigned to my Lord I give to thee,"; and,
taking off necklace and bracelet, he knelt and piled them at her feet,
raising and parting his arms in the attitude of oblation.

Charmed as by a serpent, Marcia watched him with horrible disgust, yet
unable to turn her eyes aside.

"What is Tanis to thee!" he went on. "What, Ceres! What, Proserpine!
Ashera! Derceto!--goddesses afar from men--goddesses whom, not seeing,
we worship faintly with sacrifice and ceremony. But thou--thou shalt
dwell forever in the temple upon the Square of Melkarth. Come!"

Again, and in spite of every resolve, Marcia felt the overmastering
sense of woman's loathing that stood so obstinately between herself and
the role she had marked out. It was too much. She could not--could
not suffer this man for a moment, even with the release of swiftly
hastening death before her eyes. She struggled to her feet, groping
about, turning, and, with a stifled scream, she sought to fly; but her
strength refused her even this service.

In an instant, he was up and beside her; his hand had roughly grasped
her shoulder, half tearing away the cyclas; his little eyes blazed with
vindictive fury; his nostrils dilated; his coarse lips writhed in
hungry passion.

"Ah, slave! You would escape? Where? where? In this house? Ah,
fool! Could you not measure the comedy of this morning? Do you think
this old imbecile, this man condemned to follow his mouse-killing son,
can protect you from the meanest Nubian in the army? Do you
think--ah!" and he raised his hand, as if to strike.

Wrenching he