Theos made no reply, but sat absorbed in his own reflections.  He began now to understand much that had before seemed doubtful and mysterious,—­no wonder, he thought, that Zephoranim’s fury against the audacious Khosrul had been so excessive!  For had not the crazed Prophet called Lysia an “unvirgined virgin and Queen-Courtesan”? ... and, according to Sah-luma’s present explanation, nothing more dire and offensive in the way of open blasphemy could be uttered!  Yet the question still remained—­, was Khosrul right or wrong?  This was a problem which Theos longed to investigate and yet recoiled from,—­instinctively he felt that upon its answer hung the fate of Al-Kyris,—­and also, what just then seemed more precious than anything else,—­the life of Sah-luma.  He could not decide with himself why this was so,—­he simply accepted his own inward assurance that so it was.  Presently he inquired: 

“How comes it, Sah-luma, that the corpse of Nir-jalis was found on the shores of the river?  Did we not see it weighted with iron and laid elsewhere ... ?”

“O simpleton!” laughed Sah-luma—­“Thinkest thou Lysia’s lake of lilies is a common grave for criminals?  The body of Nir-jalis sank therein, ’tis true, . . but was there no after-means of lifting it from thence, and placing it where best such carrion should be found?  Hath not the High Priestess of Nagaya slaves enough to work her will? ...  Verily thou dost trouble thyself overmuch concerning these trivial every-day occurences,—­I marvel at thee!—­Hundreds have drained the Silver Nectar gladly for so fair a woman’s sake, —­hundreds will drain it gladly still for the mere privilege of living some brief days in the presence of such peerless beauty! ...  But,—­speaking of the river—­didst thou remark it on thy way hither?”

“Aye!” responded Theos dreamily—­“’Twas red as blood"!”

“Strange!” and Sah-luma looked thoughtful for an instant, then rousing himself, said lightly, “’Tis from some simple cause, no doubt—­yet ’twill create a silly panic in the city—­and all the fanatics for Khosrul’s new creed will creep forth, shouting afresh their prognostications of death and doom.  By my faith, ’twill be a most desperate howling! ... and I’ll not walk abroad till the terror hath abated.  Moreover, I have work to do,—­some lately budded thoughts of mine have ripened into glorious conclusion,—­ and Zabastes hath orders presently to attend me that he may take my lines down from mine own dictation.  Thou shalt hear a most choice legend of love an thou wilt listen—­” here he laid his hand affectionately on Theos’s shoulder—­“a legend set about, methinks, with wondrous jewels of poetic splendor! ... ’tis a rare privilege I offer thee, my friend, for as a rule Zabastes is my only auditor,—­but I would swear thou art no plagiarist, and wouldst not dishonor thine own intelligence so far as to filch pearls of fancy from another minstrel!  As well steal my garments as my thoughts!—­for verily the thoughts are