e. The enquirers often had to
wait a long time outside the temple of Asclepius, and this consideration
encouraged Klea, and made her insensible to the burning southwest wind
which was now rising, and to the heat of the sun; still, as she returned
to the Pastophorium--slowly, like a warrior returning from a defeat--she
suffered severely from the heat, and her heart was wrung with anguish
and suspense.

Willingly would she have cried, and often heaved a groan that was more
like a sob, but the solace of tears to relieve her heart was still
denied to her.

Before going to tell Asclepiodorus that her search had been
unsuccessful, she felt prompted once more to talk with her friend, the
anchorite; but before she had gone far enough even to see his cell,
the high-priest's scribe once more stood in her way, and desired her to
follow him to the temple. There she had to wait in mortal impatience for
more than an hour in an ante room. At last she was conducted into a room
where Asclepiodorus was sitting with the whole chapter of the priesthood
of the temple of Serapis.

Klea entered timidly, and had to wait again some minutes in the presence
of the mighty conclave before the high-priest asked her whether she
could give any information as to the whereabouts of the fugitive, and
whether she had heard or observed anything that could guide them on her
track, since he, Asclepiodorus, knew that if Irene had run away secretly
from the temple she must be as anxious about her as he was.

Klea had much difficulty in finding words, and her knees shook as she
began to speak, but she refused the seat which was brought for her by
order of Asclepiodorus. She recounted in order all the places where she
had in vain sought her sister, and when she mentioned the sanctuary of
Asclepius, and a recollection came suddenly and vividly before her of
the figure of a lady of distinction, who had come there with a number
of slaves and waiting-maids to have a dream interpreted, Zoe's visit to
herself flashed upon her memory; her demeanor--at first so over-friendly
and then so supercilious--and her haughty enquiries for Irene.

She broke off in her narrative, and exclaimed:

"I am sure, holy father, that Irene has not fled of her own free
impulse, but some one perhaps may have lured her into quitting the
temple and me; she is still but a child with a wavering mind. Could it
possibly be that a lady of rank should have decoyed her into going with
her? Suc