ll stared out at the sea. Indeed, I was
wondering in my mind whether I dared ask leave to depart, for I felt her
eyes burning on me, and grew much afraid. Suddenly I heard a sound, a
gentle sound of rustling silk, and in another instant I felt Irene's
arms clasped about me and Irene's head laid upon my knee. Yes, she was
kneeling before me, sobbing, and her proud head was resting on my knee.
The diadem she wore had fallen from it, and her tresses, breaking loose,
flowed to the ground, and lay there gleaming like gold in the moonlight.

She looked up, and her face was that of a weeping saint.

"Dost understand?" she whispered.

Now despair took me, which I knew full well would soon be followed by
madness. Then came a thought.

"Yes," I said hoarsely. "I understand that you grieve over that matter
of the Augustus and the poisoned figs, and would pray me to keep
silence. Have no fear, my lips are sealed, but for his I cannot answer,
though perhaps as he had drunk so much----"

"Fool!" she whispered. "Is it thus that an Empress pleads with her
captain to keep silence?" Then she drew herself up, a wonderful look
upon her face that had grown suddenly white, a fire in her upturned
eyes, and for the second time kissed me upon the lips.

I took her in my arms and kissed her back. For an instant my mind swam.
Then in my soul I cried for help, and strength came to me. Rising, I
lifted her as though she were a child, and stood her on her feet. I
said:

"Hearken, Empress, before destruction falls. I do understand now, though
a moment ago I did not, who never thought it possible that the queen of
the world could look with favour upon one so humble."

"Love takes no account of rank," she murmured, "and that kiss of yours
upon my lips is more to me than the empire of the world."

"Yet hearken," I answered. "There is another wall between us which may
not be climbed."

"Man, what is this wall? Is it named woman? Are you sworn to the memory
of that Iduna, who is more fair than I? Or is it, perchance, her of the
necklace?"

"Neither. Iduna is dead to me; she of the necklace is but a dream.
The wall is that of your own faith. On this night seven days ago I was
baptised a Christian."

"Well, what of it? This draws us nearer."

"Study the sayings of your sacred book, Empress, and you will find that
it thrusts us apart."

Now she coloured to her hair, and a kind of madness took her.

"Am I to be preached to by you?" she aske