and kind as she is wise. I have fullest confidence in my
wife. What seest thou, Endora?'

'I fear,' replied the witch, 'I must have been mistaken; for now I see
here a beautiful woman with rippling hair of golden hue flowing back
from a snowy brow.'

'Yes, yes; go on. That is right.'

'No, it cannot be the Nika you call wife; she has eyes of blue, deep as
the sea, and her cheeks are tinged with the glory of the pomegranate.
She stands erect; she walks like a queen.'

'Thou art right, Endora. 'Tis she! Thou art an artist; go further.'

'She has ruby lips, and her teeth are white and smooth as pearl; but
within she is a cauldron of----'

'Stay, wretch!' cried Varro.

'I will not. A cauldron of lies! A sink of deception! A tiger whelp! A
soul drowning in iniquity, destined to wander in darkness for ages on
ages!'

'Stop--stop thy murderous tongue! It must be, as thou sayest, some
other--not Nika!'

'No, no. Thou shalt not stay me; I will go on. It--is--thy--wife! She is
beautiful without, but within I see her as I say.'

'Poor thing! thou art deceived. Thou art delirious; I pity thee, and
will get physician's aid for thee. I go now. Here is some gold. Rest
thyself. Thine is a case demanding pity.'

'I take not your gold; I want not your pity. I am sane. Would I had been
born a drivelling idiot, and remained so to this present!'

'But surely, woman, thou canst not be other than mad to say such
horrible things about Nika, my wife, my greatest treasure!'

'I am not mad, noble man; but speak the truth, and speak it plainly. Thy
wife deceives thee. She is vile!'

'Curse your gray locks! I will smite you where you stand if you do not
retract those blackened lies!'

'Listen, Proconsul: I will not withdraw what I have said, but will
further tear the veil from off thy deluded eyes. I have known her long,
and watched her well--the reason, mine. I have followed in the groove of
her life; but, to come to the present, thou hast been from Ephesus,
leaving thy beautiful Nika behind--leaving thy soul's happiness with
her. How has she repaid thee? How! By giving her love to----'

'Silence, thou reptile of hell!' And he sprang forward, clutching the
woman by the throat.

Her face grew dark and her eyes started; her mouth twitched
convulsively, as if she essayed to speak.

Maddened with fury, Varro still clutched her with the grip of death,
holding her out at arms' length, glaring at her like a tiger with its
prey.