these murders filled him with delicious fury. He dreamed of
killing Nicias slowly and leisurely, looking him full in the eyes whilst
he murdered him. Then suddenly his fury melted away. He wept, he sobbed.
He became feeble and meek. An unknown tenderness softened his soul.
He longed to throw his arms round the neck of the companion of his
childhood and say to him, "Nicias, I love thee, because thou hast loved
her. Talk to me about her. Tell me what she said to thee." And still,
without ceasing, the iron of that phrase entered into his soul--"Thais
is dying!"

"Light of day, silvery shadows of night stars, heavens, trees with
trembling crests, savage beasts, domestic animals, all the anxious
souls of men, do you not hear? 'Thais is dying!' Disappear, ye lights,
breezes, and perfumes! Hide yourselves, ye shapes and thoughts of the
universe! 'Thais is dying!' She was the beauty of the world, and all
that drew near to her grew fairer in the reflection of her grace. The
old man and the sages who sat near her, at the banquet at Alexandria,
how pleasant they were, and how fascinating was their conversation! A
host of brilliant thoughts sprang to their lips, and all their ideas
were steeped in pleasure. And it was because the breath of Thais was on
them that all they said was love, beauty, truth. A delightful impiety
lent its grace to their discourse. They thoroughly expressed all human
splendour. Alas! all that is but a dream. Thais is dying! Oh, how easy
it will be to me to die of her death! But canst thou only die, withered
embryo, fetus steeped in gall and scalding tears? Miserable abortion,
dost thou think thou canst taste death, thou who hast never known life?
If only God exists, that he may damn me. I hope for it--I wish it. God,
I hate Thee--dost Thou hear? Overwhelm me with Thy damnation. To compel
Thee to, I spit in Thy face. I must find an eternal hell, to exhaust the
eternity of rage which consumes me."

*****

The next day, at dawn, Albina received the Abbot of Antinoe at the
nunnery.

"Thou art welcome to our tabernacles of peace, venerable father, for no
doubt, thou comest to bless the saint thou hast given us. Thou knowest
that God, in his mercy, has called her to Him; how couldst thou fail to
know tidings that the angels have carried from desert to desert? It
is true that Thais is about to meet her blessed death. Her labours are
accomplished, and I ought to inform thee, in a few words, as to her
conduct w