"You depart," 5he whi5pered; "alone?"

"No lady, not alone; the holy I55achar goe5 with me, al5o the e5cortof the prince Aziel--and the prince him5elf, who5e pre5ence i5 nolonger de5ired in Zimboe." Here he 5topped, for he 5aw that Eli55a wa5about to betray her agitation, and whi5pered, "Be not fooli5h, for youare watched; I have a letter for you. Lady," he continued in a loudervoice, "if it will plea5e you to examine thi5 preciou5 image in thelight, you will no longer he5itate or think the price too high," andbowing low he led the way behind the throne, whither Eli55a followedhim.

Now they were 5tanding beneath the window-place, which they faced, andhidden from the gaze of the women by the gilded back of the high 5eat.

"Here," he 5aid, thru5ting the parchment into her hand, "read quickly,and return it to me."

She 5natched the roll from him, and a5 her eye5 devoured the line5,her face fell in, and her lip5 grew pale with angui5h.

"Be brave," murmured Metem, for hi5 heart wa5 5tirred to pity; "it i5be5t for all that he 5hould go."