d the women of Tennis, I would grant all,
all, and accompany him again to the work room if he would have patience
until the night of the next day but one, when the moon would be at the
full."

"And he?" asked Tabus anxiously.

"He called the brief hours which I required him to wait an eternity,"
replied the girl, "and they seemed no less long to me--but neither
entreaties nor urgency availed; what you predicted for me from the
cords last year strengthened my courage. I should wantonly throw away--I
constantly reminded myself--whatever great good fortune Fate destined
for me if I yielded to my longing and took prematurely what was already
so close at hand; for--do you remember?--at that time it was promised
that on a night when the moon was at the full a new period of the
utmost happiness would begin for me. And now--unless everything deceives
me--now it awaits me. Whether it will come with the full moon of
to-morrow night, or the next, or the following one, your spirits
alone can know; but yesterday was surely too soon to expect the new
happiness."

"And he?" asked the old dame.

"He certainly did not make it easy for me," was the reply, "but as
I remained firm, he was obliged to yield. I granted only his earnest
desire to see me again this evening. I fancy I can still hear him
exclaim, with loving impetuosity, that he hated every day and every
night which kept him from me. And now? Now? For another's sake he lets
me wait for him in vain, and if his slave does not lie, this is only the
beginning of his infamous, treacherous game."

She had uttered the last words in a hoarse cry, but Tabus answered
soothingly: "Hush, child, hush! The first thing is to see clearly, if
I am to interpret correctly what is shown me here. The demons are to
be fully informed they have required it. But you? Did you come to hear
whether the spirits still intend to keep the promise they made then?"

Ledscha eagerly assented to this question, and the old woman continued
urgently: "Then tell me first what suddenly incenses you so violently
against the man whom you have so highly praised?"

The girl related what had formerly been rumoured in Tennis, and which
she had just heard from the slave.

He had lured other women--even her innocent young sister--to his studio.
Now he wanted to induce Ledscha to go there, not from love, but merely
to model her limbs so far as he considered them useful for his work.
He was in haste to do so because he