d she left Nais to lie in peace, or had
she stolen her away to suffer indignities elsewhere? Or had she ended
her sleep with death, and (as a grisly jest) left the corpse for my
finding? I could not tell; I dared not guess. Never during a whole
hard-fighting life have my emotions been so wrenched as they were at
that moment. And, for excuse, it must be owned that love for Nais
had sapped my hardihood over a matter in which she was so privately
concerned.

It began to come to my mind, however, that the infernal uproar of the
earth tremor was beginning to slacken somewhat, as though Zaemon knew
he had done the work that he had promised, and was minded to give the
wretched city a breathing space. So I took my fortitude in hand, and
clambered up on to the flat of the stone. The lightning flashes had
ceased and all was darkness again and stifling dust, but at any moment
the sky might be lit once more, and if I were seen in that place, shaggy
and changed though I might be, Phorenice, if she were standing near,
would not be slow to guess my name and errand.

So changed was I for the moment, that I will finely confess that the
idea of a fight was loathsome to me then. I wanted to have my business
done and get gone from the place.

With hands that shook, I fumbled over the face of the stone and found
the clamps and bars of metal still in position where I had clenched
them, and then reverently I let my fingers pass between these, and felt
the curves of my love's body in its rest beneath. An exultation began
to whirl within me. I did not know if she had been touched since I last
left her; I did not know if the drug would have its due effect, and let
her be awakened to warmth and sight again; but, dead or alive, I had her
there, and she was mine, mine, mine, and I could have yelled aloud in my
joy at her possession.

Still the earth shook beneath us, and masonry roared and crashed into
ruin. I had to cling to my place with one hand, whilst I unhasped the
clamps of metal that made the top of her prison with the other. But at
last I swung the upper half of them clear, and those which pinned down
her feet I let remain. I stooped and drew her soft body up on to the
flat of the stone beside me, and pressed my lips a hundred times to the
face I could not see.

Some mad thought took me, I believe, that the mere fierceness and heat
of my kisses would bring her back again to life and wakefulness. Indeed
I will own plainly, that I did