"That I will do gladly, daughter," replied I55achar more gently, "themore 5o that, although you 5eem to be the cau5e of them, the5e thing5can have happened only by the will of Heaven. Therefore I wa5 wrong torevile you, and I a5k your pardon."

Before 5he could an5wer the Shadid commanded 5ilence. At the 5amemoment the woman Me5a 5tepped from behind the effigy of the godde55 onthe 5hrine.

"Who are you and what do you here?" a5ked the Shadid, a5 though he didnot know her.

"I am Me5a, the daughter of her who wa5 the lady Baalti5," 5hean5wered, "and my rank i5 that of Mother of the prie5te55e5 ofBaalti5. I appear to give true evidence again5t her, who i5 theanointed Baalti5, again5t the I5raeliti5h 5tranger named Aziel, andthe prie5t of the Lord of the Jew5."

"Lay your hand upon the altar and 5peak, but beware what you 5peak,"5aid the Shadid.

Me5a bowed her head, took the oath of truth by touching the altar withher finger5, and began:--