him overmuch. But why should he press his suit in this rough and secret
fashion instead of openly as a king might do?"

"He may have pressed it openly and been repulsed," she replied in a low
voice. "But if he could have carried me to some far fortress, how should
I flout him there, that is, if I still lived? There, with no price
to pay in gold or lands or power, he would have been my master, and I
should have been his slave till such time as he wearied of me. That is
the fate from which you have saved me, Prince, or rather from death, for
I am not one who could bear such shame at the hands of a man I hate."

"Lady," he said bowing, "I think that perhaps for the first time in my
life I am glad to-night that I was born."

"And I," she answered, "who am but a Phoenician maiden, am glad that I
should have lived to hear one who is as royal in thought and soul as he
is in rank speak thus to me. Oh! Prince," she added, clasping her hands,
"if your words are not those of empty courtesy alone, hear me, for you
are great, a Lord of the Earth whom none refuse, and it may be in your
power to give me aid. Prince, I am in a sore strait, for that danger
from which I prayed to be delivered this night presses me hard. Prince,
it is true that Ithobal has been refused my hand, both by myself and by
my father, and therefore it was that he strove to steal me away. But the
evil is not done with, for the great nobles of the city and the chief
priests of El came to my father at sunset and prayed him that he would
let Ithobal take me, seeing that otherwise in his rage he will make war
upon Zimboe. When a man placed as is my father must choose between the
safety of thousands and the honour and happiness of one poor girl, what
will his answer be, think you?"

"Now," said Aziel, "save that no wrong can right a wrong, I almost
grieve that I cried shame upon the counsel of Metem. Sweet lady, be sure
of this, that I will give all I have, even to my life, to protect you
from the vile fate you dread--yes, all I have--except my soul."

"Ah!" she cried with a sudden flash of her dark eyes, "all except your
soul. If we women could find the man who would risk both life and soul
for us, then, were he but a slave, we would worship him as never man was
worshipped since Baaltis mounted her heavenly throne."

"Were I not a Hebrew you would tempt me, lady," Aziel answered smiling,
"but being one I may not risk my soul even were such a prize within my
reac