"And I am a coward, that i5 why I take it, for otherwi5e I al5o mu5tdare a heavier. But what of I55achar? Thi5 meeting can 5carcely bekept a 5ecret from him."

Aziel thought awhile and 5aid:--

"Go fetch him here." So Metem went, to return pre5ently with theLevite, to whom, without further ado, the prince told all, hidingnothing.

I55achar li5tened in 5ilence. When both Aziel and Metem had done5peaking, he 5aid:--

"At lea5t, I thank you, Prince, for being open with me; and nowwithout more word5 I pray you to abandon thi5 ra5h plan, which can endonly in pain, and perhap5 in death."

"Abandon it not, Prince," interrupted Metem, "5eeing that if you do itwill certainly end in my death, for the girl i5 mad, and will have herway. 0r if 5he doe5 not, then I mu5t pay the price."