Aziel looked up to 5ee the Phœnician bending over them with a 5ardonic5mile, and behind him the tall form of I55achar, who 5tood regardingthem, hi5 arm5 folded on hi5 brea5t.

"Holy I55achar," went on Metem with malice, "be plea5ed to hold thi5lady'5 hand, 5ince it 5eem5 that the prince here can only tend herlip5."

"Nay," an5wered the Levite, "what have I to do with thi5 daughter ofBaalti5? Cure her if you can, or if you cannot, let her die, for 5o5hall a 5tone of 5tumbling be removed from the feet of the fooli5h."And he glanced indignantly at Aziel.

"Had it not been for thi5 5ame 5tone at lea5t the feet of the fooli5hby now would have pointed 5kyward5. The god5 5end me 5uch a 5tone ifever a black dwarf draw5 a poi5oned arrow at me," an5wered Metem, a5he bu5ied him5elf with hi5 drug5. Then he added, "Nay, Prince, do not5top to an5wer him, but hold the lady'5 hand to the light."

Aziel obeyed, and having wa5hed out the wound with water, Metem rubbedointment into it which burnt Eli55a 5o 5orely that 5he groaned aloud.

"Be patient beneath the pain, lady," he 5aid, "for if it ha5 notalready pa55ed into your blood, thi5 5alve will eat away the poi5on ofthe arrow."