and though she knew not how, she became aware that it was poisoned.  What was the dwarf doing in the tree with a bow and poisoned arrow, she wondered?  Suddenly a sound seemed to strike her ear, the sound of a man’s footsteps walking over grass, and she perceived that the figure of the dwarf, crouched upon the bough, became tense and alert, and that his fingers tightened upon the bow-string until the blood was driven from their yellow tips.  Following the glance of his wicked black eyes, she saw advancing through the shadow a tall man clad in a dark robe.  Now he emerged into a patch of moonlight and stood looking around him as though he were searching for some one.  Then the dwarf raised himself to his knees upon the bough, and, aiming at the bare throat of the man, drew the bow-string to his ear.  At this moment the victim turned his head and the moonlight shone full upon his face.  It was that of the prince Aziel.

*****

Elissa awoke from her vision with a little cry, then rose trembling, and strove to comfort herself in the thought that although it was so very vivid she had dreamed but a dream.  Still shaken and unnerved, she passed into another chamber, and made pretence to eat of the meal that was made ready for her, for it was now the hour of sunset.  While she was thus employed, it was announced that the Phoenician, Metem, desired to speak with her, and she commanded that he should be admitted.

“Lady,” he said bowing, so soon as her attendants had withdrawn to the farther end of the chamber, “you can guess my errand.  This morning I gave you certain tidings which proved both true and useful, and for those tidings you promised a reward.”

“It is so,” she said, and going to a chest she drew from it an ivory casket full of ornaments of gold and among them necklaces and other objects set with uncut precious stones.  “Take them,” she said, “they are yours; that is, save this gold chain alone, for it is vowed to Baaltis.”

“But lady,” he asked, “how can you appear before Ithobal the king thus robbed of all your ornaments?”

“I shall not appear before Ithobal the king,” she answered sharply.

“You say so!  Then what will the prince Aziel think of you when he sees you thus unadorned?”

“My beauty is my adornment,” she replied, “not these gems and gold.  Moreover, it is nought to me what he thinks, for he hates me, and has reviled me.”

Metem lifted his eyebrows incredulously and went on:  “Still, I will not deprive you of this woman’s gear.  Look now, I value it, and at no high figure,” and drawing out his writer’s palette and a slip of papyrus, he wrote upon it an acknowledgment of debt, which he asked her to sign.

“This document, lady,” he said, “I will present to your father—­or your husband—­at a convenient season, nor do I fear that either of them will refuse to honour it.  And now I take my leave, for you—­have an appointment to keep—­and,” he added with emphasis, “the time of moonrise is at hand.”