empting him into touch of their instruments."

"If you have failed, why bring me out here?"

"Oh, I am not inveigling you into a lover's walk with myself, sir. You
tickle yourself when you think your society is so pleasant as that."

"Come, girl, tell me then what it is. If my temper is short, credit it
against my weariness."

"I have carried out my lord's commands in part. I know the cell where
Nais lives, and I have had speech with her, though not through the door.
And moreover, I have not seen her or touched her hand."

"Your riddles are beyond me, Ylga, but if there is a chance, let us get
on and have this business done."

"We are at the place now," said she, with a hard little laugh, "and if
you kneel on the floor, you will find an airshaft, and Nais will answer
you from the lower end. For myself, I will leave you. I have a delicacy
in hearing what you want to say to my sister, Deucalion."

"I thank you," I said. "I will not forget what you have done for me this
night."

"You may keep your thanks," she said bitterly, and walked away into the
shadows.

I knelt on the floor of the gallery, and found the air passage with my
hand, and then, putting my lips to it, whispered for Nais.

The answer came on the instant, muffled and quiet. "I knew my lord would
come for a farewell."

"What the Empress said, has to be. You understand, my dear? It is for
Atlantis."

"Have I reproached my lord, by word or glance?"

"I myself am bidden to place you in the hollow between the stones, and I
must do it."

"Then my last sleep will be a sweet one. I could not ask to be touched
by pleasanter hands."

"But it mayhap that a day will come when she whom you know of will be
suffered by the High Gods to live on this land of Atlantis no longer."

"If my lord will cherish my poor memory when he is free again, I shall
be grateful. He might, if he chose, write them on the stones: Here was
buried a maid who died gladly for the good of Atlantis, even though she
knew that the man she so dearly loved was husband to her murderess."

"You must not die," I whispered. "My breast is near broken at the very
thought of it. And for respite, we must trust to the ancient knowledge,
which in its day has been sent out from the Ark of the Mysteries."--I
took the green waxy ball in my fingers, and stretched them down the
crooked air-shaft to the full of my span.--"I have somewhat for you
here. Reach up and try to catch it from me."

I heard