“The Jew did not say that, father; he said it would be because of the sins of the people and their idolatries.”

“What does it matter what he said?” broke in Sakon hastily.  “How shall I answer Ithobal?”

“Tell him,” she replied with a strange smile, “that he does wisely to be jealous of the prince Aziel.”

“What!  Of the stranger who this very day reviled you in words of such shame, and so soon?” asked her father astonished.

Elissa did not speak in answer; she only looked straight before her, and nodded her head.

“Had ever man such a daughter?” Sakon went on in petulant dismay.  “Truly it is a wise saying which tells that women love those best who beat them, be it with the tongue or with the fist.  Not but what I would gladly see you wedded to a prince of Israel and of Egypt rather than of this half-bred barbarian, but the legions of Solomon and of Pharaoh are far away, whereas Ithobal has a hundred thousand spears almost at our gate.”

“There is no need to speak of such things, father,” she said, turning aside, “since, even were I willing, the prince would have nought to do with me, who am a priestess of Baaltis.”

“The matter of religion might be overcome,” suggested Sakon; “but, no, for many reasons it is impossible.  Well, this being so, daughter, I may answer Ithobal that you will wed him.”

“I!” she said; “I wed that black-hearted savage?  My father, you may answer what you will, but of this be sure, that I will go to my grave before I pass as wife to the board of Ithobal.”

“Oh! my daughter,” pleaded Sakon, “think before you say it.  As his wife at least you, who are not of royal blood, will be a queen, and the mother of kings.  But if you refuse, then either I must force you, which is hateful to me, or there will be such a war as the city has not known for generations, for Ithobal and his tribes have many grievances against us.  By the gift of yourself, for a while, at any rate, you can, as it chances, make peace between us, but if that is withheld, then blood will run in rivers, and perhaps this city, with all who live in it, will be destroyed, or at the least its trade must be ruined and its wealth stolen away.”

“If it is decreed that all these things are to be, they will be,” answered Elissa calmly, “seeing that this war has threatened us for many years, and that a woman must think of herself first, and of the fate of cities afterwards.  Of my own free will I shall never take Ithobal for husband.  Father, I have said.”

“Of the fate of cities, yes; but how of my fate, and that of those we love?  Are we all to be ruined, and perhaps slaughtered, to satisfy your whim, girl?”

“I did not say so, father.  I said that of my own free will I would not wed Ithobal.  If you choose to give me to him you have the right to do it, but know then that you give me to my death.  Perhaps it is best that it should be thus.”