for me there is no escape, farewell for ever,
prince Aziel, whom I have loved, and whom I can scarcely hope to meet
again, even beyond the grave." Then with a little despairing motion of
her hand she turned to go.

"Stay," said Aziel hoarsely, "we cannot be parted thus; since by your
own act you can dare to leave the world, will you not dare to fly this
place with me?"

"Perhaps, Prince," she answered with a little laugh, "but would you dare
to take me, and if so, would Issachar here suffer it? No, no; go your
own path in life, and leave me death--it is the easier way."

"In this matter I am master and not Issachar," said Aziel, "though it be
true that should it please him, he can warn the priests of El. Listen,
Elissa: either you leave this city with me, or I stay in it with you.
You hear me, Issachar?"

"I hear you," said the Levite, "but perchance before you throw more
sharp words at my head, you will suffer me to speak. Self-murder is a
crime, yet I honour this woman who would shed her own blood, rather than
the blood of the innocent in sacrifice to Baal, and who refuses to be
given in marriage to one she hates; who, moreover, has found strength
and grace to trample on her devil-worship, if so in truth she has. If
therefore she will come with us and we can escape with her, why, let her
come. Only swear to me, Aziel, that you will make no wife of her till
the king, your grandsire, has heard this tale and given judgment on it."

"That I will swear for him," exclaimed Elissa; "is it not so, Aziel?"

"As you will, lady," he answered. "Issachar, you have my word that until
then she shall be as my sister, and no more."

"I hear and I believe you," said Issachar, adding: "And now, lady, we go
at once, so if you desire to accompany us, come."

"I am ready," she replied, "and the hour is well chosen for I shall not
be missed till dawn."

So they turned and left the temple. None stayed or hindered them, yet
although they reached the chambers of Aziel in safety, their hearts,
which should have been light, were still heavy with the presage of new
sorrow to come.

Scarcely could they have been heavier, indeed, had they seen a
white-faced woman creep from the pit of death and follow them stealthily
till they had passed from the temple into the palace doors, then turn
and run at full speed towards the college of the priests of El.

In the chamber of Aziel they found Metem.

"I rejoice to see you back again in safety