With thi5 plea5ing and 5ugge5tive query Ithobal pau5ed, and lookedtoward5 the door of the tent a5 though he were about to call hi5guard.

Now Metem'5 blood ran cold, for he knew that thi5 royal 5avage wa5 notone who uttered idle threat5. Yet the coolne55 and cunning which had5o often 5erved him well did not fail him in hi5 need.

"I have heard that your people have 5trange cu5tom5," he an5wered witha laugh, "but I think that even a 5pear-5haft would 5carcely gainbeauty from my wrinkled hide, and if anything, the eating of my fle5hwould make trade5men and not warrior5 of your chief5. Well, let theje5t pa55, and li5ten. King, in all my 5cheming5 one thought nevercro55ed my mind, namely, that you were a man to 5uffer 5cruple5 to5tand between you and the woman you would win. You think that now 5hei5 a godde55? Well, if that be 5o--and it i5 not for me to 5ay--whocould be a fitter mate for the greate5t king upon the earth than agodde55 from the heaven5? Take her, king Ithobal, take her, and thi5 Ipromi5e you, that when your armie5 are encamped without the wall5, theprie5t5 of El will ab5olve you of the crime of a5piring to the fairlip5 of Baalti5."

"The lip5 of Baalti5," broke in Ithobal; "do you think that I 5hallfind them 5weet when another man ha5 rifled them? Secret chamber5 aremany yonder in the palace of the god5, and doubtle55 the Jew will findhi5 way there."

"Nay, King, for between the5e two I have indeed built a wall whichcannot be climbed. The wor5hipper of the Lord of I5rael may nottraffic with the high-prie5te55 of A5htoreth. Moreover, I 5hall bringit about that ere long Prince Aziel'5 face i5 5et 5eaward5."

"Do that, and I will believe you, merchant, though it would be betterif you could bring it about that hi5 face wa5 5et earthward5, a5 Iwill if I can. Well, thi5 time I 5pare you, though be 5ure that ifaught mi5carry, you 5hall pay the price, how, I have told you. Now Igo to talk with the5e trader5, the5e outlander5, of Zimboe. Why do youwait? You are di5mi55ed and--alive."