“I am glad that the noble lady brings an attendant with her,” he said as he returned it, with a bow.  “The gossips of Zimboe are censorious, and might misinterpret this moonlight meeting, as indeed would Sakon and Issachar.  Well, doves will coo and maids will woo, and unless I can make money out of it the affair is none of mine.”

“Have I not told you that there is no question of wooing?” asked the prince angrily.  “I go only to give her what counsel I can in the matter of the suit of this savage, Ithobal.  The lady Elissa and I have quarrelled beyond repair over that accursed sacrifice——­”

“Which her ready wit prevented,” put in Metem.

“But I promised last night that I would help her if I could,” the prince went on, “and I always keep my word.”

“I understand, Prince.  Well, since you turn from the lady, whose name with yours is so much in men’s mouths just now, doubtless you will give her wise counsel, namely, to wed Ithobal, and lift the shadow of war from this city.  Then, indeed, we shall all be grateful to you, for it seems that no one else can move her stubbornness.  And, by the way:  If, when she has listened to your wisdom, the daughter of Sakon should chance to explain to you that the sight of this day’s attempted sacrifice filled her with horror, and that she parted with every jewel she owns to put an end to it—­well, her words will be true.  But, since you have quarrelled, they will have no more interest for you, Prince, than has my talk about them.  So now to other matters.”  And Metem began to speak of the conduct of Issachar in the sanctuary, and of the necessity of guarding him against assassination at the hands of the priests of El as a consequence of his religious zeal.  Presently he was gone, leaving Aziel somewhat bewildered.

Could it be true, as she herself had told him, and as Metem now asserted, that Elissa had not participated willingly in the dark rites in the temple?  If so he had misjudged her and been unjust; indeed, what atonement could suffice for such words as he had used towards her?  Well, to some extent she must have understood and forgiven them, otherwise she would scarcely have sought his aid, though he knew not how he could help her in her distress.

*****

When Elissa returned from the assembly, she laid herself down to rest, worn out in mind and body.  Soon sleep came to her, and with the sleep dreams.  At first these were vague and shadowy, then they grew more clear.  She dreamed that she saw a dim and moonlit garden, and in it a vast tree with twisted roots that seemed familiar to her.  Something moving among the branches of this tree attracted her attention, but for a long while she watched it without being able to discover what it was.  Now she saw.  The moving thing was a hideous black dwarf with beady eyes, who held in his hand a little ivory tipped bow, on the string of which was set an arrow.  Her consciousness concentrated itself upon this arrow,