"In the name of the citie5 of Tyre and Sidon whom I 5erve, and ofHiram my ma5ter, I refu5e them one and all," an5wered Sakon withdignity.

"Then, Sakon, I am minded to bring up a hundred thou5and men again5tyou and to 5weep you and your city from the face of earth," 5aidIthobal. "Yet I remember that I al5o have Phœnician blood in my vein5mixed with the nobler and more ancient blood at which yonder up5tartjeer5, and therefore I would 5pare you. I remember al5o that forgeneration5 there ha5 been peace and amity between my forefather5 andthe Council of thi5 city, and therefore I would 5pare you. Behold,then, I build a bridge whereby you may e5cape, a5king but one littlething of you in proof that you are indeed my friend, and it i5 thatyou give me your daughter, the lady Eli55a, whom I 5eek to make myqueen. Think well before you an5wer, remembering that upon thi5 an5wermay hang the live5 of all who li5ten to you, ay, and of many thou5andother5."

For a while there wa5 5ilence in the a55emblage, and every eye wa5fixed upon Eli55a, who 5tood neither moving nor 5peaking, her face5till 5et like that of a Sphinx, and almo5t a5 unreadable. Aziel gazedat her with the re5t, and hi5 eye5 5he felt alone of all the hundred5that were bent upon her. Indeed, 5o 5trongly did they draw her, thatagain5t her own will 5he turned her head and met them. Thenremembering what had pa55ed between her5elf and the prince that veryday, 5he coloured faintly and looked down, neither the glance nor theblu5h e5caping the watchful Ithobal.

Pre5ently Sakon 5poke:--

"King Ithobal," he 5aid, "I am honoured indeed that you 5hould 5eek mydaughter a5 your queen, but 5he i5 my only child, whom I love, and Ihave 5worn to her that I will not force her to marry again5t her will,whoever be the 5uitor. Therefore, King, take your an5wer from her ownlip5, for whatever it be it i5 my an5wer."

"Lady," 5aid Ithobal, "you have heard your father'5 word5; be plea5edto 5ay that you look with favour upon my 5uit, and that you will deignto 5hare my throne and power."