“So be it, Lady.  The Caliph is not a man who would wish to force your inclination.  Still, this being so, I am charged to say he bids you remember that you were taken prisoner in war by the Emir Musa.  He holds that, subject to his own prior right, which he waives, you are the property of the Emir Musa under a just interpretation of the law.  Yet he would be merciful as God is merciful, and therefore he gives you the choice of three things.  The first of these is that you adopt Islam with a faithful heart and go free.”

“That I refuse, as I have refused it before,” said Heliodore.

“The second is,” he continued, “that you enter the harem of the Emir Musa.”

“That I refuse also.”

“And the third and last is that, having thrust aside his mercy, you suffer the common fate of a captured Christian who persists in error, and die.”

“That I accept,” said Heliodore.

“You accept death.  In the splendour of your youth and beauty, you accept death,” he said, with a note of wonder in his voice.  “Truly, you are great-hearted, and the Caliph will grieve when he learns his loss, as I do now.  Yet I have my orders, for which my head must answer.  Lady, if you die, it must be here and now.  Do you still choose death?”

“Yes,” she said in a low voice.

“Behold this cup,” he went on, “and this draught which I pour into it,” and I heard the sound of liquid flowing.  “Presently I shall ask you to drink of it, and then, after a little while, say the half of an hour, you will fall asleep, to wake in whatever world God has appointed to the idol worshippers of the Cross.  You will suffer no pain and no fear; indeed, maybe the draught will bring you joy.”

“Then give it me,” said Heliodore faintly.  “I will drink at once and have done.”

Then it was that I came out from behind my curtain and groped my way towards them.

“Sir Physician, or Sir Envoy of the Caliph Harun,” I said; but for the moment went no further, since, with a low cry, Heliodore cast herself upon my breast and stopped my lips with hers.

“Hush till I have spoken,” I whispered, placing my arm about her; then continued.  “I swore to you just now that I would not reveal myself unless I heard aught which would bring disgrace on my head or name.  To stand still behind yonder curtain while my betrothed is poisoned at your hands would bring disgrace upon my head and name so black that not all the seas of all the world could wash it away.  Say, Physician, does yonder cup hold enough of death for both of us?”

“Yes, General Olaf, and if you choose to share it I think the Caliph will be glad, since he loves not the killing of brave men.  Only it must be now and without more words.  You can talk for a little afterwards before the sleep takes you.”

“So be it,” I said.  “Since I must die, as I heard you decree but now, it is no crime to die thus, or at least I’ll risk it who have one to guard upon that road.  Drink, beloved, a little less than half since I am the stronger.  Then give me the cup.”