He glanced up with a bright, assured smile,—­Theos met his gaze wonderingly, doubtfully,—­but made no reply,—­and together they paced slowly across the marble terrace, and out into the glorious garden, rich with the riotous roses that clambered and clustered everywhere, their hues deepening to flame-like vividness in the burning radiance of the sinking sun.

CHAPTER XIV.

The summons of the signet.

They walked side by side for some little time without speaking, through winding paths of alternate light and shade, sheltered by the latticework of crossed and twisted green boughs where only the amorous chant of charming birds now and then broke the silence with fitful and tender sweetness.  All the air about them was fragrant and delicate,—­tiny rainbow-winged midges whirled round and danced in the warm sunset-glow like flecks of gold in amber wine,—­while here and there the distant glimmer of tossing fountains, or the soft emerald sheen of a prattling brook that wound in and out the grounds, amongst banks of moss and drooping fern, gave a pleasant touch of coolness and refreshment to the brilliant verdure of the luxuriant landscape.

“Speaking of creeds, Sah-luma”—­said Theos at last, looking down with a curious sense of compassion and protection at his companion’s slight, graceful form—­“What religion is it that dominates this city and people?  To-day, through want of knowledge, it seems I committed a nearly unpardonable offence by gazing at the beauty of the Virgin Priestess when I should have knelt face-hidden to her benediction,—­thou must tell me something of the common laws of worship, that I err not thus blindly again.”

Sah-luma smiled.

“The common laws of worship are the common laws of custom,”—­he replied—­“No more,—­no less.  And in this we are much like other nations.  We believe in no actual Creed,—­who does?  We accept a certain given definition of a supposititious Divinity, together with the suitable maxims and code of morals accompanying that definition, ... we call this Religion, . . and we wear it as we wear our clothing for the sake of necessity and decency, though truly we are not half so concerned about it as about the far more interesting details of taste in attire.  Still, we have grown used to our doctrine, and some of us will fight with each other for the difference of a word respecting it,—­and as it contains within itself many seeds of discord and contradiction, such dissensions are frequent, especially among the priests, who, were they but true to their professed vocation, should be able to find ways of smoothing over all apparent inconsistencies and maintaining peace and order.  Of course we, in union with all civilized communities, worship the Sun, even as thou must do,—­in this one leading principle at least, our faith is universal!”

Theos bent his head in assent.  He was scarcely conscious of the action, but at that moment he felt, with Sah-luma, that there was no other form of Divinity acknowledged in the world than the refulgent Orb that gladdens and illumines earth, and visibly controls the seasons.