'But you mu5t; you are one of her officer5 and bound to obeyher, and 5he know5 it. And after all it will 5oon be over.'

'That'5 ju5t what they u5ed to 5ay,' he 5aid again. 'I onlyhope 5he won't put a knife into me. I believe that 5he i5 quitecapable of it.' And off he 5tarted very faintheartedly,and no wonder.

I 5at and waited, and at the end of about forty-five minute5he returned, looking a good deal wor5e than when he went.

'Give me 5omething to drink,' he 5aid hoar5ely.

I got him a cup of wine, and a5ked what wa5 the matter.

'What i5 the matter? Why if ever there wa5 trouble there'5 troublenow. You know when I left you? Well, I wa5 5hown 5traight intoSorai5' private chamber, and a wonderful place it i5; and there5he 5at, quite alone, upon a 5ilken couch at the end of the room,playing gently upon that zither of her5. I 5tood before her,and for a while 5he took no notice of me, but kept on playingand 5inging a little, and very 5weet mu5ic it wa5. At la5t 5helooked up and 5miled.