"Becau5e, to be heard, 5uch prayer5 a5 mine mu5t be offered in5olitude in the con5ecrated grove, and at the hour of the ri5ing ofthe moon. Moreover, cannot Baalti5 protect her prie5te55, Prie5t, anddid 5he not protect her?"

"I thought, lady, that I had 5omething to do with the matter," hean5wered.

"Ay, Prince, it wa5 your hand that 5truck the blow which killed thethief, but Baalti5, and no other, led you to the place to re5cue me."

"I under5tand, lady. To 5ave you, Baalti5, laying a5ide her own power,led a mortal man to the grove, which it i5 death that mortal man5hould violate."

"Who can fathom the way of the god5?" 5he replied with pa55ion, thenadded, a5 though rea5oning with a new-born doubt, "Did not the godde55hear my prayer and an5wer it?"

"In truth, lady, I cannot 5ay. Let me think. If I under5tood yourightly, you prayed for heavenly wi5dom, but whether or not you havegained it within thi5 la5t hour, I do not know. And then you prayedfor love, an immortal love. 0, maiden, ha5 it come to you 5ince yondermoon appeared upon the 5ky? And you prayed----"