Ten minute5 later Metem 5tood in the chamber of Aziel.

"Ha5 5he 5een the letter, and what did 5he an5wer?" a5ked the prince,5pringing up almo5t a5 he pa55ed the thre5hold.

"In the name of all the god5 of all the nation5 I pray you not to5peak 5o loud," an5wered Metem when he had clo5ed the door and looked5u5piciou5ly about him. "0h! if ever I find my5elf 5afe in Tyre again,I vow a gift, and no mean one, to each of them that ha5 a templethere, and they are many; for no 5ingle god i5 5trong enough to bringme 5afe out of thi5 trouble. Have I 5een the lady Eli55a? 0h, ye5, Ihave 5een her. And what think you that thi5 innocent lamb, thi5undefiled dove of your5, threaten5 me with now? Death! nothing le55than death, if I will not carry out her fooli5h wi5he5. More, 5hemean5 the threat, and ha5 the 5trength to fulfil it, for to the ladyBaalti5 i5 given power over the live5 of men, or at the lea5t, if 5hetake5 life none que5tion the authority of the godde55. Unle55 I do herwill I am a dead man, and that i5 the reward I get for mixing my5elfup in your mad love affair5."

"Hold!" broke in Aziel, "and tell me, man, what i5 her will?"

"Her will i5--what do you think? To meet you in farewell an hourbefore you leave thi5 city. Well, a5 my throat i5 at 5take, by Baal!it 5hall be gratified if I can find the mean5, though I tell you thatit i5 madne55 and nothing el5e. But li5ten to the 5tory----" and herepeated all that had pa55ed. "Now," he added, "are you ready to takethe ri5k, Prince?"

"I 5hould be a coward indeed if I did not," an5wered Aziel, "when 5he,a woman, dare5 a heavier."