"Nay,Iwillnotburnany,"saidPhorenice,"butyoushalllookuponmysword—playtillyouaretired。"
  Iheardhersaythatwithsomemaliciousamusement,knowing(asoneoftheSeven)howshehadcalleddownthefiresoftheskytoburnthatcloven—hoofedhorseofferedinsacrifice,andknowingtoo,fullwell,thatshecouldbringdownnofirehere。Buttheygaveuslittleenoughtimeforwordycourtesies。TheirEmpressneverwentfarunattended,and,foraughtthewretchesknew,anescortmightbeclosebehind。Sowhatpilferingtheydid,itbehovedthemtogetdonequickly。
  Theyclosedin,jostlingoneanothertobefirst,andthereekoftheirfilthybodiesmadeuscough。AgrimyhandlaunchedouttoseizesomeofthejewelswhichflashedonPhorenice’sbreast,andIloppeditoffattheelbow,sothatitfellatherfeet,andasecondlaterwewereengaged。
  "Yourbacktomine,comrade,"criedshe,withalaugh,andthendrewandlaidaboutherwithfinedexterity。Bah!butitwasmereslaughter,thatfirstbout。
  Thecrowdhustledinwardswithsuchgreedinesstoseizewhattheycould,thatnonehadspacetodrawbackelbowforathrust,andwetwokeptacircleroundusbysheerwhirlingofsteel。Itisnecessarytodoone’sworkcleanlyinthesebouts,aswoundedleftonthegroundunnoticedbeforeoneareasdangerousassomanysnakes。ButaswecircledroundinourbattlingInotedthatallofPhorenice’squarrylaypeacefulandstill。BytheGods!butshecouldplayafinesword,thisdaintyEmpress。Shetouchedlifewitheverythrust。
  Yes,itwasplaintosee,nowanexamplewasgiven,thatthethroneofAtlantishadbeenwon,notbyalovelyfaceandasubtletonguealone;and(asafightermyself)IdidnotlikePhorenicethelessfortheknowledge。Icouldbutseeheroutofthecornerofmyeye,andthatonlynowandagain,forthefishers,despitetheirill—knowledgeoffence,andtheclumsinessoftheirweapons,hadheavynumbers,andmostsavageferocity;andastheymadesoconfidentofbeingabletopullusdown,itrequiredmorethanalittlehardbattlingtokeepthemfromdoingit。Ay,bytheGods!
  itwasattimesafightmyheartwarmedto,andifIhadnotcontrivedtopluckashieldfromonefoolwhocametoovain—gloriouslynearmewithone,Icouldnotsweartheywouldnothavedraggedmedownbysheerraveningsavageness。
  AndalwaysabovetheburlyuproarofthefightcameverypleasantlytomyearsPhorenice’scryof"Deucalion!"whichshechoseasherbattleshout。Iknewher,ofcourse,tobeapast—mistressoftheartofcompliment,anditwasnonewthingformetohearthenameroaredoutaboveabattledin,butitwasgiventhereundercircumstanceswhichwerepeculiar,andforthelifeofmeIcouldnothelpbeingtickledbytheflattery。
  Condemnmyweaknesshowyouwill,butIcameverynearthentolikingtheEmpressofAtlantisinthewayshewished。Andasforthatotherwomanwhoshouldhavefilledmymind,Iwillconfessthatthestressofthemoment,andthefuryoftheengagement,haddrivenbothherandherstraitcompletelyoutbeyondthemarchesofmymemory。Ofsuchfrailstuffarewemade,eventhoseofuswhoesteemourselvesthestrongest。
  Nowitisatemptationfewmenborntotheswordcanresist,tothrowthemselvesheartandsoulintoafightforafight’ssake,anditseemsthatwomencanbebittenwiththesamefierceinfection。Theattackslackenedandhalted。Westoodinthemiddleofaringoftwisteddead,andtherestofthefishersandtheirwomenwhohemmedusinshrankbackoutofreachofourweapons。
  Itwasthemomentforatruce,andthemomentwhenafewstrongwordswouldhavesentthembackcoweringtotheirhuts,andgivenusfreepassagetogowherewechose。Butno,thisPhorenicemustneedssingahymntoherswordandmine,gloatingoverourfeatsandinvulnerability;andthenshemustneedsaskpaymentforthebearersofherlitterwhomtheyhadkilled,andthenspeakbalefullyoftheburnings,andtheskinnings,andthesawingsasunderwithwhichthisfishers’quarterwouldbetreatedinthenearfuture,tilltheylearnedthevirtuesofdeportmentandgenteelmanners。
  "Itmakesyourbackscreep,doesit?"saidPhorenice。"Idonotwonder。Thisseveritymusthaveitsunpleasantside。Butwhydoyounotputitbeyondmypowertogivetheorder?EitheryoumustthinkyourselvesGodsormenoGoddess,oryouwouldnothavegoneonsofar。Comenow,younasty—smellingpeople,followoutyourtheory,andifyoumakeagoodfightofit,IswearbymyfaceIwillbelenientwiththosewhodonotfall。"
  Buttherewasnopressinguptomeetourswords。Theystillringedusin,savageandsullen,beyondtheringoftheirowndead,andwouldneitherrunbacktothehouses,norgiveusthegameoffurtherfight。Therewasacertainstubbornbraveryaboutthemthatonecouldnotbutadmire,andformyselfIdeterminedthatnexttimeitbecamemydutytoraisetroops,Iwouldcatchahandfulofthesemen,andteachthemhandinesswiththeutensilsofwar,andtrainthemtoloyaltyandfaithfulness。Butpresentlyfrombehindtheirranksastoneflew,andthoughitwhizzedbetweentheEmpressandmyself,andstruckdownafisher,itshowedthattheyhadbroughtanewmethodintotheirattack,anditbehovedustotakethoughtandmeetit。
  Ilookedroundmeupanddownthebeach。Therewasnosignofarescue。"Phorenice,"Isaidinthecourttongue,whichthesebarbarousfisherswouldknowlittleenoughof,"Itakeitthatawhiffofthesea—breezewouldcomeverypleasantafterallthiswarmplay。Asyoucanshowsuchprettyswordwork,willyoucutmeawaydowntothebeach,andIwilldomypoorbesttokeepthesecreaturesfromsnappingatourheels?"
  "Oh!"criedshe。"ThenIamtohaveacourtierforahusbandafterall。Whyhaveyoukeptbackyourflatteringspeechestillnow?Isthatyourtricktomakemeloveyou?"
  "Iwillthinkoutthereasonforitanothertime。"
  "Ah,thesestern,commandinghusbands,"saidshe,"howtheydopressupontheirlittlewives!"andwiththatleapedovertheringofdeadbeforeher,andcutandstabbedawaythroughthosethatstoodbetweenherandthewaterswhichcreamedandcrasheduponthebeach。Gods!whatachargeshemade。ItmademetinglewithadmirationasIfollowedsidewaysbehindher,guardingtherear。
  AndIamamanthathasspentsomanyyearsinbattling,thatittakessomethingfaroutofthecommontomovemetoanyenthusiasminthismatter。
  Thereweretwoboatscreakingandwashingaboutintheedgeofthesurf,butinone,happily,thewicker—workwhichmadeitsframewascrushedbytheweightofthewavesintoashapelessbundleofsticks,andwouldtakehalfadaytoreplace。Sothat,letusbutgettheothercraftafloat,andweshouldbefreefromfurtherembroiling。Butthefisherswerequicktoseetheobjectofthisnewmanoeuvre。"Guardtheboat,"theyshouted。"Smashher;slitherskinwithyourknives!Tearherwithyourfingers!Swimherouttosea!Oh,atleasttakethepaddles!"
  But,iftheseclumsyfisherscouldrun,Phorenicewaslikealeggedsnakeforspeed。Shewasdownbesidetheboatbeforeanycouldreachit,laughingandshoutingoutthatshecouldbeatthemateverypoint。Myself,Iwassloweroffoot;and,besides,therewassomethatofferedmeafightontheroad,andIwasnotwishfultobaulkthem;andmoreover,thefewerweleftclamouringbehind,thefewertherewouldbetospeedourgoingwiththeirstones。
  StillIcametothebeachingoodorder,andlaidhandsontheflimsyboatandtippedherdry。
  "Fightingisnotradefor,me,"Icried,"whilstyouarehere,Phorenice。Guardmemybackandwalkoutintothewater。"
  Itooktheboat,thrustingitafloat,andwadingwithittilltwolinesofthesurfwerepast。Thefishersswarmedroundus,activeasfishintheirnativeelement,andstrovemightilytogethandsontheboatandslitthehideswhichcovereditwiththeireagerfingers。ButIhadasparehand,andashortstabbing—knifeforsuchclose—quarterwork,andhere,there,andeverywherewasPhorenicetheEmpress,withherthirstydrippingsword。BytheGods!Ilaughedwithsheerdelightatseeingherartoffence。
  Buttheswirlofagreatfishintotheshallows,andthesquealofafisherashewasdraggeddownandhomeawayintothedeep,madememindfuloffoesthatnoskillcanconquer,andnobraveryavoid。WithouttakingtimetogivetheEmpressawordofwarning,Istooped,andflunganarmroundher,andthrewherupoutofthewaterintotheboat,andthenthrustonwithallmymight,drivingtheflimsycraftouttosea,whilstmylegscreptundermeforfearofthebeastswhichswaminvisiblebeneaththemuddiedwaters。
  Tothefishers,inuredtothesehorridperilsbydailyassociation,theseizingofoneoftheirnumbermeantlittle,andtheypressedon,carelessoftheirdulllives,eageronlytosnatchthejewelswhichstillflauntedonPhorenice’sbreast。Ofthevengeancethatmightcomeaftertheyreckednothing;letthembutgetthewherewithalforonenight’sgooddebauch,andtheywouldforgetthatsuchathingasthemorningofamorrowcouldhaveexistence。
  TwofellowsIcaughtandkilledthat,divingdownbeneath,triedtoslittheskinoftheboatoutofsightunderthewater;
  andPhorenicecaredforallthosethattriedtoputahandonthegunwales。Yes,andshedidmorethanthat。Ahugelong—neckedturtlethatwasstirredoutofthemudbytheturmoil,cameuptodaylight,andswungitsgreathorn—lippedmouthtothissideandthat,seekingforaprey。Thefishersnearitdodgedanddived。
  I,thrustingatthesternoftheboat,couldonlyhopeitwouldpassmebyandsoofferedaneasymark。Itscurriedtowardsme,champingitsnoisylips,andbeatingthewaterintospraywithitsflippers。
  ButPhorenicewasquickwitharemedyandarescue。Shepassedherswordthroughoneofthefishersthatpressedher,andthenthrustthebodytowardstheturtle。Thegreatneckswoopedtowardsit;thelongslimyfeelerswhichprotrudedfromitsheadquiveredandsnuffled;andthenthehornygreenjawscrunchedonit,anddrewitdownoutofsight。
  Theboatwasindeepwaternow,andPhorenicecalleduponmetocomeinovertheside,shethewhilebalancingnicelysothattheflimsythingshouldnotbeoverset。Thefishershadgivenuptheirpursuit,findingthattheyearnednothingbutlopped—offarmsandsplitfacesbycomingwithinswingofthisterribleswordoftheirEmpress,andsocontentedthemselveswithvolleyingjaggedstonesinthehopesofstunningusorsplittingtheboat。However,Phorenicecrouchedinthestern,holdingthetwoshields——herowngoldentarget,andtheroughhidebucklerIhadwon——andsoprotectedbothofuswhilstIpaddled,andthoughmanystonesclatteredagainsttheshields,andhitthehidecoveringoftheboat,sothatitresoundedlikeadrum,noneofthemdiddamage,andwedrewquicklyoutoftheirrange。
  12。THEDRUGOFOURLADYTHE
  MOON
  OurLordtheSunwasridingtowardstheendofHisday,andthesmokefromaburningmountainfannedblackandforbiddingbeforeHisface。Phorenicewrungthewaterfromherclothesandshivered。"Workhardwiththosepaddles,Deucalion,andtakemeinthroughthewater—gateandletmeberestoredtomycomfortsagain。
  Thatmerchantwouldrueifhesawhowhisprettygarmentswerespoiled,andIrue,too,beingawoman,andrememberingthatheatleasthasnoothersIcantakeinplaceofthese。"Shelookedatmesidelong,tossingbacktheshortredhairfromhereyes。"Whatthinkyouofmywisdomincomingwherewehavecomewithoutanescort?"
  "TheEmpresscandonowrong,"Iquotedtheoldformulawithasmile。
  "AtleastIhaveshownyouthatIcanfight。Icaughtyoulookingyourapprovalofmequitepleasantlyonceortwice。Youwereadifficultmantothaw,Deucalion,butyouwarmperceptiblyasyoukeeponbeingnearme。La,sir,weshallbeapairofrusticsweetheartsyet,ifthisgoeson。IamgladIthoughtofthedeviceofgoingnearthosesmellyfishers。"
  Soshehadtakenmeoutinthelitterunattendedfortheplainpurposeofinvitingafight,andshowingmeherskillatarms,andperhaps,too,ofseeinginpersonhowIalsocarriedmyselfinamomentofstress。Well,ifweweretoliveontogetherashusbandandwife,itwasgoodthateachshouldknowtoanicetytheother’spowers;andalso,Iamtoomuchofanoldbattlerandtoomuchenamouredwiththeglorioushandlingofarmstoquarrelverydeeplywithanyonewhooffersmeatoughupstandingfight。Stillforthelifeofme,IcouldnothelpcomparingPhorenicewithanotherwoman。Withasimilarchanceopenbeforeus,Naishadrobbedmeofthestrugglethroughasheerpityforthosesqualidrebelswhodidnotevencallherchieftain;whilstherewasthisEmpressfritteringawaytwoscoreofthehardiestofhersubjectsmerelytogratifyawhim。
  Yet,loyaltomyvowasapriest,andtothecommandssetuponmebythehighcouncilontheSacredMountain,Itriedtoputawaythesewaywardthoughtsandcomparisons。AsIrowedovertheswingingsofthewavestowardsthefortswhichguardtheharbour’smouth,IsentprayerstotheHighGodstogivemytonguedexterity,andTheythroughTheirloveforthecountryofAtlantis,andtheharassedpeople,whomitwasmydeepwishtoserve,grantedmethatpowerofspeechwhichPhoreniceloved。HereyesgloweduponmeasItalked。
  Thisbeachofthefisherswherewehadhadourpassageatarmsissafefromshipattackfromwithout,byreasonofachainofjaggedrockswhichspringupfromthedeep,andrunfromtheharboursidetotheendofthecitywall。Thefishersknowthepasses,andcanoftentimesgetthroughtotheopenwaterbeyondwithouttouchingastone;oriftheydoseeadangerofhittingonthereef,leapoutandcarrytheirlightboatsintheirhandstillthewaterfloatsthemagain。ButhereIhadneithertheknowledgenorthedexterity,and,thoughtI,nowtheHighGodswillshowfinallyifTheywishthiswomanwhohasdefiledthemtoreignoninAtlantis,andifalsoTheywishmetoserveasherhusband。
  Icriedthesethingsinmyheart,andwaitedtoreceivetheomen。Therewasnohalf—answer。Agreatwaveroseinthelagoonbehindus,awavesuchascouldhaveonlybeencausedbyanearthtremor,andonitssleekbackwewerehurledforwardandthrownclearofthereefswiththeirseaweedslickingroundus,withoutsomuchasseeingastoneofthebarrier。IbowedmyheadasIrowedontowardstheharbourforts。ItwasplainthatnotyetwouldtheHighGodstakevengeancefortheinsultswhichthislovelywomanhadofferedThem。
  Thesentriesinthetwofortsbeatdrumsatoneanotherintheiraccustomedrotation,andinthegrowingduskweregoingtopaylittleenoughattentiontothefishingboatwhichlayagainstthegreatchainclamouringtohaveitlowered。Butluckilyapairofofficersweretakingtheairoftheeveninginastone—droppingturretoftheroofofthenearerfort,andtheserecognisedthetoneofourshouts。Theysilencedthedrums,torcheswereloweredtomakesureofourfaces,andthenwithasplashthegreatchainwasdroppedintothewatertogiveuspassage。
  Agalleylayinside,nuzzlingtheharbourwall,andpresentlytheladderofropeswasletdownfromthetopofthenearestfort,andacrewcamedowntomantheoars。Therewerethecustomarychangesofraimenttoo,givenaspresentsbytheofficersofthefort,andtheseweputoninthecabinofthegalleyinplaceofthesoddenclotheswewore。Therearefeverstobegainedbycarryingwetclothesaftersunset,andthoughfrompersonalexperienceIhavelearnedthatthesemaybewardedoffwithdrugs,InoticedwithsomegrimamusementthattheEmpresshadsufficientlylittleoftheGoddessabouthertofearverymuchtheailmentswhichareduetofrailhumanity。
  Thegalleyrowedswiftlyacrossthecalmwatersoftheharbour,andmadefasttotheringsofgoldontheroyalquay,andwhilstwewerewaitingforlitterstobebrought,IwatchedalanternlitintheboatwhichstoodguardoverPhorenice’smammoth。
  Thehugeredbeaststoodshoulder—deepintheharbourwater,withtrunkup—turned。Itwastamednow,andthelightoftheboat’slanternfellonthelittleripplessentoutbyitstremblings。ButIdidnotchoosetointercedeoraskmercyforit。Ifthemammothsankdeeperintheharbourmud,andwasswallowed,Icouldhavebornethelosswithequanimity。
  Totellthetruth,thatrideonthegreatbeast’sbackhadimpressedmeunfavourably。Infact,itputintomeasenseofhelplessnessthatwaswellnighintolerable。Perhapscircumstanceshavemademeundulyself—reliant:onthatothersmustjudge。ButIwillowntohavingapreferenceforwalkingonmyownproperfeet,astheGodsinfashioningourshapesmostcertainlyintended。
  OnmyownfeetIamabletoguardmyownheadandneck,andhavedoneonfourcontinents,throughoutalongandactivelife,andonmanyathousandoccasions。Butonthebackofthatdetestablemammoth,pah!Igrewasnervousasachildoradastard。
  However,Ihadlittleenoughleisureforpersonalmegrimsjustthen。Whilstwewaited,Phoreniceaskedtheport—captain(whomustneedscomeupofficiouslytomakehissalutations)afterthedisposalofNais,andwastoldthatshehadbeenclappedintoadungeonbeneaththeroyalpyramid,andtheofficeroftheguardtherehadgivenhisbondforhersafe—keeping。
  "Itistobehopedheunderstandshiswork,"saidtheEmpress。
  "ThatprettyNaisknowsthepyramidbetterthanmost,anditmaybehewillbesenttothetormentorsforputtingherinacellwhichhadasecretoutlet。Youwouldfeelpleasureifthegirlescaped,Deucalion?"
  "Assuredly,"saidI,knowinghowuselessitwouldbetomakeasecretofthematter。"IhavenoenmityagainstNais。"
  "ButIhave,"saidsheviciously,"andIamstillmindedtolockyourfaithtomebythatweddinggiftyouknowof。"
  "Thethingshallbedone,"Isaid。"Beforeall,theEmpressofAtlantis。"
  "Poof!Deucalion,youaretoostiffandformal。YououghttobemightilyhonouredthatIcondescendtobejealousofyourfavours。Yourhand,sir,please,tohelpmeintothelitter。Andnowcomeinbesideme,andkeepmewarmagainstthenightair。Ho!
  youguardstherewiththetorches!Keepfartherbackagainstthestreetwalls。Theperfumeyouareburningstiflesme。"
  Againtherewasafeastthatnightintheroyalbanqueting—hall;againIsatbesidePhoreniceontheraiseddaiswhichstandsbeneaththesymbolsofthesnakeandtheout—stretchedhand。Whathadbeentakenforgrantedbeforeaboutourforthcomingrelationshipwasthistimeproclaimedopenly;theEmpressherselfacknowledgedmeasherhusbandthatwastobe;andallthatcurledandjewelledthrongofcourtiershailedmeasgreaterthanthemselves,byreasonofthiswoman’schoice。Therewasmethod,too,intheirsalutation。Somerumourmusthavegotaboutofmypreferencefortheolderandsimplerhabits,andtherewasnodrinkingwinetomyhealthafterthenewand(asIconsidered)
  impertinentmanner。Decorously,eachlordandladytherecameforward,andeachinturnspiltagobletatmyfeet;andwhenI
  calledanyup,whethermanorwoman,toreceivetit—bitsfrommyplatter,itwaseatensimplyandthankfully,andnotkissedorpocketedwithanyextravagantgesture。
  Theflaringjetsofearth—breathshowedme,too,soIthought,aplainerhabitofdress,andamoresobermienamongstthisthoughtlessmobofbanqueters。And,indeed,itmusthavebeenplaintonotice,forPhorenice,leaningovertilltheruddycurlsonhershoulderbrushedmyface,chidedmeinaplayfulwhisperashavingusurpedherhighauthorityalready。
  "Oh,sir,"shepleadedmockingly,"donotmakeyourruleoverustooascetic。Ihavegivennoordersforthischange,butto—nighttherearenoperfumesintheair;thefoodissoplainandIhavehalfamindtoburnthecook;andasfortheclothesandgaudsofthesediners,bymyface!theymighthavecomestraightfromtheoldKing’sreignbeforeIsteppedinheretoshowhowtastefulcouldbecoloursonarobe,orhowprettytheglintofajewel。It’sdonebynoordersofmine,Deucalion。Theyhaveswungroundtothischangebysheercourtierinstinct。Why,lookatthebeardsofthemen!Thereisnothalfthecurlaboutmanyofthemto—daythattheyshowedwithsuchexquisitenessyesterday。Bymyface!Ibelievethey’dreaptheirchinsto—morrowassmoothasyours,ifyougoonsettingthefashionsatthisprodigiousrateandIdonotinterfere。"
  "Whyhinderthemiftheyfeelmorecleanlyshaven?"
  "No,sir。ThereshallbeonlyonecleanchinwhereabeardcangrowinallAtlantis,andthatshallbecarriedbythemanwhoishusbandtotheEmpress。Why,myDeucalion,wouldyouhavenosumptuarylaws?Wouldyouhavethesegoodfolkhereandthecommonpeopleoutsideimitateusineverycutofthehairandeveryfoldofagarmentwhichitpleasesustodiscover?Come,sir,ifyouandIchosetosaythatoursovereigntywasmarkedonlybyoursuperiorstrengthofarmandwit,theywouldhateusatonceforourarrogance;whereas,ifwekeepaparttoourselvesafewmerepersonaldecorations,thesebecomejustobjectstoadmireandpleasantlyenvy。"
  "Youshowmethatthereismoreintheofficeofarulerthanmeetstheeye。"
  "Andyettheytellme,andindeedshowme,thatyouhaveruledwithsomesuccess。"
  "Iemployedtheoldermethod。ItrequiresaPhorenicetoinventthesenicerflights。"
  "Flatterer!"saidshe,andsmotemeplayfullywiththebackofherlittlefingersonmyarm。"Youarebecomingasgreatacourtierasanyofthem。Youmakemeblushwithyourfinepleasantries,Deucalion,andthereisnofan—girlhereto—nighttocoolmycheek。Imustchoosemeanotherfan—girl。ButitshallnotbeYlga。YlgaseemstohavemoreofakindnessforyouthanI
  like,andifsheiswiseshewillgoliveinherpalaceattheothersideofthecity,andthereoccupyherselfwiththeorderingofherslaves,andthemakingsofembroideries。IshallnotbehardonYlgaunlesssheforcesme,butIwillhavenowomaninthiskingdomtreatyouwithunduecivility。"
  "AndhowamItoact,"saidI,fallinginwithhermood,"whenIseeandhearallthemenofAtlantismakingtheirprotestationsbeforeyou?Byyourownconfessiontheyallloveyouasardentlyastheyseemtohavelovedyouhopelessly。"
  "Ah,now,"shesaid,"youmustnotaskmetodoimpossibilities。Iampowerfulifyouwill。ButIhavenoforcewhichwillgoverntheheartsofthesepoorfellowsonmatterssuchasthat。Butifyouchoose,youmakeproclamationthatIamgivennowbodyandinwardstoyou,andiftheycontinuetooffendyourprideinthismatter,youmaytakeyourculprits,andgivethemovertothetormentors。Indeed,Deucalion,Ithinkitwouldbeaprettyattentiontomeifyoudidarrangesomesuchceremony。Itseemstomeapresent,"sheaddedwithafrown,"thatthejealousyistoomuchononeside。"
  "Youmustnotexpectthatamanwhohasbeendivorcedfromloveforallofabusylifecanlearnallitsnicetiesinaninstant。Myself,Iwasfeelingproudofmyprogress。Withanyotherschoolmistressthanyou,Phorenice,Ishouldnotbenearsoforward。Infact(ifonemayjudgebymypastrecord),Ishouldnothavebeguntolearnatall。"
  "IsupposeyouthinkIshouldbesatisfiedwiththat?Well,Iamnot。Icanbefinelygreedyoversomematters。"
  Thebanquetthisnightdidnotextendtoinordinatelength。
  Phorenicehadgonethroughmuchsincelastsheslept,andthoughshehaddeclaredherselfGoddessinthemeantime,itseemedthatherbodyremainedmortalasheretofore。Theblackringsofwearinesshadgrownunderherwondrouseyes,andshelaybackamongstthecushionsofthedivanwithherlimbsslackenedandlistless。Whenthedancerscameandposturedbeforeus,shethrewthemajewelandbadethembegonebeforetheyhadgivenahalfoftheirperformance,andthepoet,asillyswellingfellowwhocametosingthedeedsoftheday,shewouldnothearatall。
  "To—morrow,"shesaidwearily,"butfornowgrantmepeace。
  MyLordDeucalionhasgivenmemuchfoodforthoughtthisday,andpresentlyIgotomychambertomuseoverthefuturepoliciesofthisStatethroughoutthenight。To—morrowcometomeagain,andifyourpoetryisgoodandshort,Iwillpayyousurprisingly。Butseetoitthatyouarenotlong—winded。Iftherearesuperfluouswords,Iwillpayyouforthosewiththestick。"
  Sherosetoherfeetthen,andwhenthebanquetershadmadetheirsalutationtous,Iledherawayfromthebanqueting—hallanddownthepassageswiththeirsecretdoorswhichledtoherprivatechambers。Sheclungonmyarm,andoncewhenwehaltedwhilstagreatstoneblockswungslowlyajartoletuspass,shedroopedherheadagainstmyshoulder。Herbreathcamewarmagainstmycheek,andthelovelinessofherfacesocloseathandsurpassesthedescriptionofwords。IthinkitwasinhermindthatIshouldkisstheredlipswhichwereheldsoneartomine,butwillingthoughIwastoplaythepartappointed,Icouldnotbringmyselftothat。Sowhenthestoneblockhadswung,shedrewawaywithasigh,andwewentonwithoutfurtherspeech。
  "MaytheHighGodstreatyoutenderly,"Isaid,whenwecametothedoorofherbed—chamber。
  "IammyownGod,"saidshe,"inallthingsbutone。Bymyface!youareatardywooer,Deucalion。Wheredoyougonow?"
  "Tomyownchamber。"
  "Oh,gothen,go。"
  "IsthereanythingmoreIcoulddo?"
  "Nothingthatyourwitoryourwillwouldpromptyouto。Yes,indeed,youarefinelydecorous,Deucalion,inyourold—fashionedway,butyouareamightypoorwooer。Don’tyouknow,myman,thatawomanesteemssomethingsthemorehighlyiftheyaretakenfromherbyrudeforce?"
  "ItseemsIknowlittleenoughaboutwomen。"
  "Youneversaidatruerword。Bah!AndIbelieveyourcoldnessbringsyoumorebenefitinacertainmatterthananyshowofpassioncouldearn。There,getyougone,iftheatmosphereofamaiden’sbed—chamberhurtsyourrusticmodesty,andyourGodskeepyou,Deucalion,ifthat’sthephrase,andifyouthinkTheycandoit。Getyougone,man,andleavemesolitary。"
  Ihadtakentheplanofthepyramidoutofthearchivesbeforethebanquetandlearneditthoroughly,andsowasabletothreadmywaythroughitsangularmazeswithoutpauseorblunder。I,too,washeavilyweariedwithwhatIhadgonethroughsincemylastsnatchofsleep,butIdaresetapartnotimeforrestjustthen。
  NaismustbesacrificedinpartfortheneedsofAtlantis;butaplanhadcometomebywhichitseemedthatsheneednotbesacrificedwholly;andtocarrythisthroughtherewasneedforquickthoughtandaction。
  HelpcametomealsofromaquarterIdidnotexpect。AsI
  passedalongthetortuouswaybetweentheponderousstonesofthepyramid,whichledtotheapartmentsthathadbeengivenmebyPhorenice,awomanglidedupoutoftheshadowsofoneofthesidepassages,andwhenIliftedmyhandlamp,therewasYlga。
  Sheregardedmehalf—sullenly。"Ihavelostmyplace,"shesaid,"anditseemsIneedneverhavespoken。Sheintendedtohaveyouallalong,anditwasnotathinglikethatwhichcouldputheroff。Andyou——youjustthinkmeofficious,if,indeed,youhaveevergivenmeanotherthoughttillnow。"
  "Ineverforgetakindness。"
  "Oh,youwilllearnthattricksoonnow。Andyouaregoingtomarryher,you!Thecityisringingwithit。Ithoughtatleastyouwerehonest,butwhenthereisahighplacetobegotbymerelytakingawomanwithit,youareliketherest。Ithought,too,thatyouwouldbeoneofthosemenwhohaveadistrustforruddyhair。And,besidessheislittle。"
  "Ylga,"Isaid,"youhavetaughtmethatthesewallsarefullofcranniesandears。IwilllistentonowordagainstPhorenice。
  ButIwouldhavefurtherconversewithyousoon。Ifyoustillhaveakindnessforme,gotothechamberthatismineandwaitformethere。Iwilljoinyoushortly。"
  Shedroopedhereyes。"Whatdoyouwantofme,Deucalion?"
  "Iwanttosaysomethingtoyou。Youwilllearnwhoitconcernslater。"
  "Butisit——isitfittingforamaidentocometoaman’sroomatthishour?"
  "IknowlittleofyourconventionshereinthisnewAtlantis。
  IamDeucalion,girl,andifyoustillhavequalms,rememberingthat,donotcome。"
  Shelookedupatmewithasneer。"Iwasfoolish,"shesaid。
  "Mylord’scoldnesshasgrownintoaproverb,andIshouldhaverememberedit。Yes;Iwillcome。"
  "Gonow,then,"saidI,andwaitedtillshehadpassedonaheadandwasoutofsightandhearing。WithYlgatohelpme,mytasksweresomewhatlightened,andtheirsequencechanged。Inthefirstinstance,now,IhadgottomakemywaywithaslittledelayandshowaspossibleintoacertainsanctuarywhichlaywithinthetempleofourLadytheMoon。AndheremyknowledgeasoneoftheSevenstoodmeinhighfavour。