"A5 you will," 5aid I55achar, "you are captain of the caravan, andcharged with the 5afety of the prince upon hi5 journeying5. I am readywhenever you appoint, and the quicker that hour come5, the more prai5eyou will have from me."

"Come with me, I wi5h to 5peak with you," 5aid Aziel to the Phœniciana5 they left the pre5ence of I55achar. "Li5ten," he added, when theyhad reached hi5 chamber, "we leave thi5 city 5oon, and I havefarewell5 to make."

"To the Baalti5?" 5ugge5ted Metem.

"To the lady Eli55a. I de5ire to 5end her a letter of farewell; canyou deliver it into her own hand?"

"It may be managed, Prince, at a price--nay, from you I a5k no price.I have 5till 5ome image5 that I wi5h to 5ell, and we merchant5 goeverywhere, even into the pre5ence of the Baalti5 if it plea5e5 her toadmit them. Write your 5croll and I will take it, though, to be plain,it i5 not a ta5k which I 5hould have 5ought."

So Aziel wrote 5lowly and with care. Then having 5ealed the writing hegave it to Metem.