He thought and reasoned until his brain was on fire, and still no solution of the mystery was presented to his understanding.

“Well,” he at last exclaimed, so loud that he startled himself, “I will have to accept it as a mystery and patiently wait time’s own pleasure for the explanation.”

He began to prepare for retiring, but he could not calm himself—­a restlessness took possession of him that he could not quell; he walked the floor, tried to read, and resorted to many ways to restore his tranquillity, but all in vain.

“I must see my Nu-nah once more before I can sleep,” and, hurriedly readjusting the clothing he had removed, he repaired to the Princess’ private room.  A gentle knock brought the attendant to the door.

“Is the Princess quiet and sleeping,” he inquired in a whisper.

“No,” answered the servant.  “She is awake and feeling well, and just now remarked, that if she thought you were not sleeping she would have you called for she had something she wished to tell you.”

His presence was at once made known to the Princess, and, with a low cry of delight, she called him to her side.  A signal sent the attendant from the room, when the Princess began, “My Rathunor, my beloved husband, I am so glad you came.  I have something to tell you that I might forget before morning.  To-night, when we came within the sound of the music in the Temple, I felt as if I left my body and you, and by some unknown power was drawn into the Sacred Sanctuary.  I saw the High Priest, the lovely Mother Priestess, the Vestals, the choir and musicians, all earnestly engaged in some holy ceremony.  The music, the heavenly spiritual influence of the atmosphere, the exquisite fragrance of incense and perfumes, with the purity reflected by the Vestal attendants, so enraptured and enthralled me that the thought that I would ever have to leave its sacred boundaries caused me to lose consciousness and, when I awoke, you were bending over me.”

Seeing a strange look in Rathunor’s eyes and interpreting it to mean jealousy, she continued, “but that was not all, my Rathunor; you were there, too, for awhile.  I tried to keep you, but could not—­something drew you away from me and I, for an instant, suffered the same pangs that are torturing your heart now.  I thought you would rather go than stay, and a feeling of jealousy entered my heart, but the strange fascination of the place was more to me at that instant than you, my Rathunor, so I longed to stay but could not.  I have been trying to think what it all means.  You must help me for already I feel the memory of the event passing away.”