ess being whom her terrible house-mate was preparing
to hand over to the superstition of the mob, she thought no more of
getting home, but waited in the crush till at length she and the two
children could be conducted by Rustem to the prison, though the way
thither was through the most crowded streets.

Had the nameless horrors that hung over Paula already found their way to
her ears through the prisonwalls, or might it yet be her privilege to
be able to prepare the girl for the worst, and to comfort the victim
who must already have been driven to the verge of desperation by the
sentence of death?

On the previous day the chief warder had acceded without demur to her
wish to see Paula, for the Kadi had enjoined him to show her and Orion
all possible courtesy, but the Vekeel's threats made him now refuse to
admit Dame Joanna. However, while he was talking with her, his infant
son stretched out his arms to Pulcheria, who had played with him the day
before in her sweet way, and she now took him up and kissed him, thus
bringing a kindly feeling to three hearts at once; and most of all to
that of the child's mother who immediately interested herself for them,
and persuaded her husband to oblige them once more.

Pretty Emau had always waited on the mirthful Orion, under the palms by
her father's inn, more gladly than on most other guests; and her husband
who, after the manner of the Egyptians, was docile to his better half
though till now he had not been quite free from jealousy, was even more
ready to serve his benefactor's son since hearing that he was betrothed
to the fair Paula.

There was a great uproar in the large common prison to-day, as usual
when the judges had passed sentence of death on any criminal, and the
women shuddered as the miserable wretches hallooed and bellowed. Many
a shriek came up, of which it was hard to say whether it was the
expression of wild defiance or of bitter jesting, and no more suitable
accompaniment could be conceived to this terrific riot than the clank of
chains.

When the women reached Paula's cell their hearts throbbed painfully,
for within the door which the warder unlocked anguish and despair must
dwell.

The prisoner was standing at the window, pressing her brow against the
iron bars and listening to the lute played by her lover, which sounded,
amid the turmoil of the other prisoners, like a bell above the roar of
thunder and the storm. By the bed sat Betta on a low stool, as