tess! I am right, and thou must hear me to the end,
and then, if thou desirest, may'st destroy me. 'Twas but to-day I stood
at the gate of Chios asking charity, when he and Nika came forth. One
could see by her face beaming with radiance that words of tenderest
meaning clung like flowers of jasmine around her heart, and she bore in
her hands richest blossoms of varied hue culled from the garden of
Chios. Now, mark well what I am about to say. He loves her not--of this
I am certain, but she has drawn him with her subtle wiles and may bind
him as a slave--bind him with her web as a spider chains a fly. He is a
good man being netted by an artful fowler; a part of their hate for thee
would be gratified could they but take Chios in their snare, make him
their tool in bringing forth their darkest designs on thee. I warn thee
of this treacherous girl and her wolf-like dame. Take heed. Beware, lest
Chios and Nika join them for thy destruction.'

'How didst thou know Chios?'

'Have I not told thee I saw him near the great theatre talking to thee
when thou worest the robe of golden brown, the badge of slavery?'

'True.'

'Yes, Chios I knew well, but the girl I knew not. And, when they passed,
she with the golden hair gave me a coin--a coin of gold. I would have
blessed her, and commenced--but failed. Even if I had blessed her, my
blessings would have been empty words; but even such I could not bestow,
for, as I spoke, I looked into her eyes and read her accursed of
Hecate.'

'Hush! 'tis fearful!'

'I hurried after to know her name, and saw her enter a sumptuous home on
the slope of Coressus, and was told it was Venusta's place, and she who
entered Nika, the daughter. I sent the golden disc within, saying I
needed it not. I could not take alms from the accursed girl, the young
tigress who would have maimed thee--killed thee! This is my story. I
go.'

'Hast thou more to say?'

'No, noble priestess. Let me go. The truth is said. Now I am weak again,
and thou couldst crush me as a moth between the fingers, or I might
presumptuously fly too near the flaming lamp and be my own destroyer.'

'I cannot let thee go as thou earnest, in poverty. Thou wilt, I am sure,
take from my hands these bits of gold in place of that thou sacrificedst
for me. They will buy thee food and wine and raiment, and help to give
some little joy. Go thy unhappy way. I pity thee, Endora--I pity thee,
and I tell thee I will care for myself; but no harm c