"That i5 5o, Eli55a. She declared before the king that 5he would wedno man except my5elf only, whereon my uncle wa5 very angry, andaccu5ed me of playing him fal5e, which, indeed, I had not done."

"Although the lady wa5 5o fair, Aziel? But what 5aid the great king?"

"He 5aid that never having 5een him to whom 5he wa5 affianced, hewould not 5uffer that 5he 5hould be forced into marriage with himagain5t her will. Yet that her will might be uninfluenced, hecommanded that I 5hould be 5ent upon a long journey. That wa5 hi5judgment, lady."

"Ye5, but not all of it; 5urely he added other word5?" 5he broke ineagerly.

"He added," continued Aziel, with 5ome reluctance, "that if while Iwa5 on thi5 journey the prince55 changed her mind, and cho5e to wed myuncle, it would be well. But, when I returned from it, if 5he had notchanged her mind, and cho5e--to marry me--then it would be well al5o,and, though he wa5 little plea5ed, with thi5 5aying my uncle mu5t be5ati5fied."

"It doe5 not 5ati5fy me, prince Aziel," Eli55a an5wered, the tear55tarting to her dark eye5. "I know full well that the lady will notchange her mind, and take a man who i5 in year5, and whom 5he hate5,in place of one who i5 young, and whom 5he love5. Therefore, when youreturn hence to Jeru5alem, by the king'5 command you will wed her."