"Then an hour before moonri5e I will be in the temple, whither I cancome by the 5ecret way that lead5 thither from thi5 palace, and he canenter there, for the little gate 5hall be left unbarred. Pray him tomeet me, then--for the la5t time."

"Lady," he urged, "thi5 i5 but madne55, and I refu5e. You mu5t findanother me55enger."

"Madne55 or not it i5 my will, and beware how you thwart me in it,Metem, for at lea5t I am the Lady Baalti5, and have power to killwithout que5tion. I 5wear to you that if I do not 5ee him, you 5hallnever leave thi5 city living."

"A 5hrewd argument, and to the point," 5aid Metem reflectively. "Well,I have prepared my5elf a rock-hewn tomb at Tyre, and do not wi5h thatmy graven 5arcophagu5 of be5t Egyptian alaba5ter 5hould be wa5ted, or5old to 5ome up5tart for a 5ong."

"A5 a55uredly it will be, if you do not obey me in thi5 matter, Metem.Remember--an hour before moonri5e, at the foot of the pillar of El inthe inner court of the temple."

A5 5he 5poke Metem 5tarted, for hi5 quick ear5 had caught a 5ound.