f the world do not dream. I will love you as the gods love,
and as the gods we will live and love--it may be for ever. Nothing
of high wisdom shall be unrevealed to us. We shall be what the world
will be when it nears the close of time. Come to me--trust me--be
beside me in all the wonder that I know. But above all, love me, for
I love you more than life, and wisdom, and mystery!"

Olivia understood, and she believed. The mystery of life had always
been more real to her than its commonplaces, and all her years she
had gone half-expecting to meet some one, unheralded, to whom all
things would be clear, and who should make her know by some secret
sign that this was so, and should share with her. She had no doubt
whatever that Prince Tabnit spoke the truth--just as the daughter of
the river-god Inachus knew perfectly that she was being wooed by a
voice from the air. Indeed, the world over, lovers promise each
other infinite things, and are infinitely believed.

"I do understand you, Prince Tabnit," Olivia said simply, "I do
understand something of what you offer me. I think that these things
were not meant to be hidden from men always, so I can even believe
that you have all that you say. But--there is something more."

Olivia paused--and swiftly, as if some little listening spirit had
released the picture from the air, came the memory of that night
when she had stood with St. George on that airy rampart beside the
wall of blossoming vines.

"There is something more," she repeated, "when two love each other
very much I think that they have everything that you have said, and
more."

He looked at her in silence. The stained light from some high window
caught her veil in meshes of rose and violet--fairy colours,
witnessing the elusive, fairy, invincible truth of what she said.

"You mean that you do not love me?" said the prince gently.

"I do not love you, your Highness," said Olivia, "and as for the
wisdom of which you speak, that is worse than useless to you if you
can do as you say with two quite innocent men." She hesitated,
searching his face. "Is there no way," she said, "that I, the
daughter of your king, can save them? I will appeal to the people!"

The prince met her eyes steadily, adoringly.

"It would avail nothing," he said, "they are at one with the law.
Yet there is a way that I can help you. If Mr. St. George returns,
as he must, he and his friends shall be set adrift with due
ceremony--but in an im