s in the house and grotto."

They were astonished, and stood motionless, looking at their mistress.
And they still stood inactive and silent, and pressed against each
other, elbow to elbow, suspecting that the order was a joke.

"Obey!" said the monk.

Several of them were Christians. They understood the command, and went
to the house to fetch wood and torches. The others were not indisposed
to imitate them, for, being poor, they hated riches and had a natural
instinct for destruction. Whilst they were building the pile, Paphnutius
said to Thais--

"I thought at one time of fetching the treasurer of one of the churches
of Alexandria (if there still remain one worthy of the name of church,
and that is not defiled by the Arian beasts) and giving him thy goods,
woman, that he might distribute them to widows, and change the proceeds
of crime into the treasure of justice. But such a thought did not come
from God, and I cast it from me, for assuredly it would be a great
offence to the well-beloved of Jesus Christ to offer them the spoils
of thy lust. Thais, all that thou hast touched must be devoured by
the fire, even to its very soul. Thanks be to Heaven, these tunics and
veils, which have seen kisses more innumerable than the waves of the
sea, will only feel now the lips and tongues of the flames. Hasten,
slaves! More wood! More links and torches! And thou, woman, return to
thy house, strip thyself of thy shameful robes, and ask of the most
humble of thy slaves, as an undeserving favour, the tunic that she puts
on when she scrubs the floors."

Thais obeyed. Whilst the Indians knelt down and blew the embers, the
negroes threw on the pile coffers of ivory, ebony, or cedar, which broke
open and let out wreaths, garlands, and necklaces. The smoke rose in a
dark column, as in the holocausts of the old religion. Then the fire,
which had been smouldering, burst out suddenly with a roar as of some
monstrous animal, and the almost invisible flames began to devour their
valuable prey. The slaves worked more eagerly; they joyfully dragged out
rich carpets, veils embroidered with silver, and flowered tapestry. They
staggered under the weight of tables, couches, thick cushions, and
beds with gold nails. Three strong Ethiopians came hugging the coloured
statues of the nymphs, one of which had been loved as though it were a
mortal; and they looked like huge apes carrying off women. And when the
beautiful naked forms fell from the arm