 Chapter 17 of Our Death by Marie Carelli. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. A virgin unshrined. Under the cloudless star-patterned sky, in the soft, warm air that brimmed with the fragrance of roses, they drove once more together through the spacious streets of Al-Kiris. Streets that were now nearly deserted, say for a few late passers-by, whose figures were almost as indistinct and raptured in motion as pale-lidding shadows. There was not a sign of storm in the lovely heavens, though now and again a sullen roll as of a distant cannonade hinted a pent-up anger lurking somewhere behind that clear and exquisitely dark blue ether in which a million worlds blaze luminously like pendulous drops of white fire. Saluma's chariot whirled along with incredible swiftness, the hoofs of the galloping horses occasionally striking sparks of flame from the smooth mosaic pictured pavement. But the oars now began to notice that there was a strange noiselessness in their movements, that the whole cortege appeared to be environed by a magic circle of silence and that the very night itself seemed breathlessly listening in and tranced off to some unlanguaged warning from the gods invisible. Compared with the turbulence and terror just left behind at the king's palace, this weird hush was uncomfortably impressive and gave a sense of fantastic unreality to the scene. The sleepy mesmeric radiance of the full moon shining on the delicate traceries of the quaintly sculptured houses on either hand made them look brittle and evanescent. The great heavy hanging orange bowels and the feathery flondage of the palms seemed outlined in mere mist against the sky and the grimpses caught from time to time of the broad and quietly flowing river were like so many flashes of light seen through a veil of cloud. The oars standing beside his friend with one hand resting familiarly on his shoulder dreamily admired the phantom-like beauty of the city thus transfigured in the moonbeams and though he vaguely wondered a little at the deep mysterious stillness that everywhere prevailed he scarcely admitted to himself that there was or could be anything unusual in it. He took his position as he found it indeed he could not well do otherwise since he felt his fate was ruled by some resolute unseen force against which all resistance would be unavailing. Moreover his mind was now entirely possessed by the haunting vision of Lycea a vision half human half divine a beautiful magical irresistible sweetness that allured his soul and roused within him a wordless passion of infinite desire. He exchanged not a syllable with Saluma and indefinable yet tacit understanding existed between them an intuitive foreknowledge and subtle perception of each other's character intentions and aims that for the moment rendered speech unnecessary and there was something after all in the profound silence of the night that while strange was also eloquent eloquent of meanings unutterable such as lie hidden in the scented cups of flowers when lovers gather them on idle summer afternoons and weave them into posies for one another's wearing. How fleetly the gilded shell-shaped car sped on its way trees houses bridges domes and cupolas seem to fly past in a varied world of glistening color now and again a cluster of fireflies broke from some thicket of shape and danced drowsily by in sparkling tangles of gold and green here and there from great open squares and branch shattered gardens gleamed the stone face of an obelisk or the white column of a fountain while over all things streamed along prismatic rays flung forth from the revolving lights in the twelve towers of this sacred temple like flaming spears ranged lengthwise against the limitless depth of the midnight horizon with straining necks tossed mains and foam flying from their nostrils solemn as fiery coasters dashed onward at almost lightning speed and the journey became a wild headstrong rush through the dividing air a rush towards some voluptuous and dimly discerned yet indefinite at last they stopped before them rose a lofty building crested with fantastic pinnacles such as are formed by ice on the roof in times of intense cold a great gate stood open and pacing slowly up and down in front of it was a tall slave in white tunic and turban who turning his gleaming eyeballs on saluma knotted by way of salutation and then uttered a sharp peculiar whistle this summons brought out two curious dwarfish figures of men whose awkward misshapen limbs resemble the contorted branches of windblown trees and whose course and repulsive countenances betokened that malignant delight in evil doing which only demons are supposed to know these ungainly server tours possessed themselves of the laureates chafing steeds and led them and that carried away into some unseen courtyard while the laureate himself still saying no word kept fast hold of his companion's arm and heard him along a dark avenue overshadowed with thick bows that drooped heavily downward to the ground a solitary place where the intense quiet was disturbed only by the occasional drip drip of dewy moisture trickling tearfully from the leaves or the sweet faint gurgling sound of fountains playing somewhere in the distance on they went for several paces till at a sharp bend in the moss grown path and amethystine light broke full between the arched green branches directly in front of them glimmered a broad piece of water and out of the purple tinted depths rose the white nude lovely form of a woman whose rounded out stretched arms appeared to beckon them whose mouth smiled in mingled malice and sweetness and round whose looped up tresses sparkled a diadem of sapphire flame with a cry of astonishment and ecstasy theos spring forward saluma held him back in laughing remonstrance will drown for a statue's sake he inquired mirthfully by my soul good theos if thy wits thus wander at sight of a witching marble nymph illumined by electric glamours what will become of thee when thou art face to face with living breathing loveliness come thou hotheaded neophyte thou shalt not waste thy passion on images of stone i've warrant thee come but the use stood still his eyes rowed from saluma to the glittering statue and from the statue back again to saluma in mingled doubt and dread a vague foreboding filled his mind he fancied that a bevy of mocking devils peered at him from out the wooded labyrinth and that sin was the name of the white siren yonder whose delicate body seemed to palpitate with every slow ripple of the surrounding waters he hesitated with that often saving hesitation a noble spirit may feel error willfully yielding to what it instinctively knows to be wrong and for the briefest possible space and imperceptible line was drawn between his own self-consciousness and the fascinating personality of his lately found friend a line that parted them asunder as though by a gulf of centuries saluma he said in a tremulous low tone tell me truly is it good for us to be here saluma regarded him in wide eyed amazement good good he repeated with a sort of impatient disdain what does thou mean by good what is good what is evil can't thou tell if so thou art wiser than I good to be here if it is good to drown remembrance of the world in drafts of pleasure if it is good to love and be beloved if it is good to enjoy I enjoy with burning zest every pulsation of the blood and every beat of the heart and to feel that life is a fiery delight an exquisite dream of drained off rapture then it is good to be here if and he caught the osa's hand in his own warm palm and pressed it while his voice sang to a soft and infinitely caressing sweetness if it is good to climb the dizzy heights of joy and drows in the deep sunshine of amorous eyes to slip away on elfin wings into the limitless freedom of love's summer land to rifle rich kisses from warm lips even as rose buds are rifled from that parent rose and to forget to forget all bitter things that are best forgotten enough enough quite theos fired with a reckless impulse of passionate order on on saluma I follow thee on let us delay no more at that moment a far off strain of music saluted his ears music evidently played on stringed instruments it was accompanied by a ringing clash of cymbals he listened and listening saw a smile lighten saluma's features a smile sweet yet full of delicate mockery their eyes met a wanton impetuosity flashed like reflected flame from one face to the other and then without another instance pause they hurried on across a broad rose marvel terrace garlanded with a golden wealth of orange trees and odorous oleanders under a trellis work covered with magnolias whose half shut ivory tinted buds glistened in the moonlight like large suspended pearls then through a low-roofed stone corridor close and dim lit only by a few flickering oil lamps placed at far intervals then on they went to that last ascending three red granite steps on which were carved some curious hieroglyphs they plunged into what seemed to be a vast jungle enclosed in some dense tropical forest what a strange unsightly thicket of rank verger was here thought theos it was as though nature grown tired of floral beauty had in a sudden malevolent mood purposely torn and blurred the fair green frondage and twisted every bud awry great jagged leaves covered with prickles and stained all over with blotches as a spilt poison thick brown stems glistening with slimy moisture and coiled up like the sleeping bodies of snakes masses of purple and blue fungi and blossoms seemingly of the orchid species some like fleshy tongues others like the wax and yellow fingers of a dead hand protruded spectrally through the matted foliage while all manner of strange overpowering odors increased the swooning oppressiveness of the sultry languorous air this uncouth botanical garden was apparently roofed in by a lofty glass stone decorated with hangings of watery green silk but the grotesque trees and plants grew too so enormous a height that it was impossible to tell which were the following draperies and which the straggling leaves curious birds flew hither and thither voiceless creatures garland and amber winged a huge gilded brazier stood in one corner from whence ascended the constant smoke of burning incense and there were rose shaded lamps all about that shed a subdued mysterious luster on the scene and bestowed a pale glitter on a few fantastic clumps of erums and knotting lotus flowers that lazily lifted themselves out of a greenish pool of stagnant water sunk deeply in on one side of the marble flooring the years holding saloon his arm stepped eagerly across the threshold he was brimful of expectation and what mattered it to him whether the weed like things that grew in this strange pavilion were pure or poisonous provided he might look once more upon the witching face that long ago had so sweetly enticed him to his ruin stay what was he thinking of long ago nay that was impossible since he had only seen the priestess lycea for the first time that very morning how piteously perplexing it was to be thus tormented with these indistinct ideas these half-formed notions of previous intimate acquaintance with persons and places he never could have known before all at once he grew back with a startled exclamation an enormous tigress sleek and jewel-eyed bounded up from beneath a tangled mass of red and yellow creepers and advanced toward him with a low savage snarl peace izeef peace says aluma carelessly petting the animal's head thou art want to be wiser in distinguishing twigs thy friends and foes then turning to thee as he added she is harmless as a kitten this poor izeef call her good theos she will come to the hand see when he smiled as theos not to be outdone by his companion in physical courage bent forward and stroked the cruel-looking beast who while submitting to his caress never for a moment seized her smothered snarling presently however she was seized with a sudden fit of savage playfulness and throwing herself on the ground before him she rolled her live body to and fro with brief thirsty roars of satisfaction roars that echoed through the whole pavilion with terrific resonance then rising she shook herself vigorously and commenced a stealthy velvet footed pacing up and down lashing her tail from side to side and keeping those sly emerald-like eyes of hers watchfully fixed on saluma who merely laughed at her fierce antics leaning against one of the dark gnarled trees he tapped his sandal foot with some impatience on the marble pavement while theos standing close beside him wondered whether the mysterious lycea knew of their arrival saluma appeared to guess his thoughts for he answered them as though they had been spoken aloud yes he said she knows we are here she knew the instant we entered her gates nothing is or can be hidden from her he who would have secrets must depart out of alkyris and find some other city to dwell in for here he shall be unable to keep even his own counsel do lycea all things are made manifest she reads human nature as one reads an open scroll and with merciless analysis she judges men as being very poor creatures limited in their capabilities disappointing a monotonous in their passions unproductive and circumscribed in their destinies to her ironical humor and icy wit the wisest sages seem fools she proves them through the core and discovers all their weaknesses she has no trust in virtue no belief in honesty and she is right who but a madman would be honest in these days of competition and greed of gain and as for virtue tis a pretty icicle that melts at the first touch of a hot temptation i the virgin priestess of negaya have the most profound comprehension of mankind's immeasurable brute stupidity and strong in this knowledge she governs the multitude with iron will intellectual force and dictated firmness when she dies i know not what will happen here he interrupted himself in a dark shadow crossed his brows by my soul he muttered how this thought of death haunts me like the unburied corpse of a slain foe i would there were no such thing as death tis a cruel and wanton sport of the gods to give us life at all if life must end so utterly and so soon he sighed deeply the echos echoed the sigh but answered nothing at that moment the restless izith gave another appalling roar and pounced swiftly toward the eastern side of the pavilion where a large painted panel could be dimly discerned the subject of the painting being a hideous idol whose long half shut inscrutable eyes leered through the surrounding foliage with an expression of hateful cunning and malevolence in front of this panel the tigress lay down licking the pavement thirstily from time to time and giving vent to short purring sounds of impatience then all suddenly she rose with ears pricked in an attitude of attention the panel slowly moved it glided back and the great brute leaped forward flinging her two soft paws on the shoulders of the figure that appeared the figure of a woman who clad in glistening gold from head to foot shown in the dark aperture like a gilded image in a shrine of ebony the years beheld the brilliant apparition in some doubt and wonder was this like sea he could not see her face as she wore a thick white veil through which only the faintest sparkle of dark eyes glimmered like flickering sunbeams nor was he able to discern the actual outline of her form as it was completely enveloped and lost in the wide shapeless folds of her stiff golden gown yet every nerve in his body thrilled at her presence every drop of blood seemed to rush from his heart to his brain in a swift scorching torrent that for a second lined at his eyes with a red glare and made him faint and giddy woman and tigress they looked strangely alike he thought as they stood mutually caressing each other under the great drooping masses of fantastic leaves yet where was the resemblance what possible similarity could there be between a tawny treacherous brood of the forests full of sly malice and voracious cruelty and that dazzling gold-garmented creature whose small white hand flashing with jewels now tenderly smooth the black silken stripes on the sleek coat of her savage favorite down sweet eyes zeeved down she said in a grave dorset voice as softly languorous as the last note of a love song down my gentle window art to find down so this as the tigress instantly removed its embracing paws from her neck and trembling in every limb crouched on the ground in abjectly submissive obedience another moment and she advanced leisurely into the pavilion i zeeved slinking stealthily along beside her and seeming to imitate her graceful gliding movements till she stood within a few paces of theos and saluma just near the spot where the lotus flowers swayed over the grass green stagnant pool there she paused and apparently scrutinized her visitors intently through the folds of her snowy veil saluma bent his head before her in a half hearty half humble salutation the tardy saluma she said with an undercurrent of laughter in her musical tones the poet who loves the fluttery of a foolish king and the applause of a still more foolish court and so co's rule disturbed the flood of vine inspiration tonight good menstrual nay for that he should die if for no other crime and this here she turned her veiled features toward theos whose heart beat furiously as he caught a luminous flash from those half-hidden brilliant eyes this is the unwitting stranger who honored me by so daring a scrutiny this morning barely thou hast to singularly venture some spirit of thine own fair sir still we must honor courage even though it border on rashness and i rejoice to see that the wrathful mom of alchurus hath yet left the man enough to deserve my welcome nevertheless thou were guilty of most heinous presumption here she extended her jeweled hand art thou repentant and wilt thou soothe for pardon scarcely conscious of what he did theos approached her annealing on one knee took that fair soft hand in his own and kissed it with passionate fervor criminal as i am he murmured tremulously i glory in my crime nor will i seek forgiveness nay rather will i plead with thee that i may sin so sweet as sin again and blind myself with beauty unapproved slowly she withdrew her fingers from his clasp thou art bold she said with a touch of indolent amusement in her accents but in thy boldness there is something of the hero knowest thou not that i licea high priestess of negaya could have the straightway slain for that unwise speech of thine unwise because over hasty and somewhat over familiar yes i could have these slain and she laughed a rippling little laugh like that of a pleased child how be it now shall not die this time for thy foolhardiness thy looks are too much in thy favor thou art like saluma in his noblest moods when tired of verse stringing and sonnet chanting he condescends to remember that he is not quite divine see how he chafes at that and plucking a lotus bug she threw it playfully at the laureate whose handsome face flushed vexedly at her words and thou art prudent surtheos do i not pronounce thy name aptly thou wilt be less petulant than he and less absorbed in self adoration for here men even poets are deemed no more than men and their constant quarrelous claim to be considered as demigods meets with no acceptance wilt blind thyself with beauty as thou sayest well then lose thine eyes but guard thy heart and with the careless movement she loosened her veil it fell from her like a soft cloud and theos springing to his feet gazed upon her with a sense of enraptured bewilderment and passionate pain it was as though he saw the wraith of some fair dead woman he had loved of old risen a new re-demand from him his former allegiance oh unfamiliar yet well-known face oh slumbers starry eyes that seem to hold the memory of a thousand love thoughts oh sweet curved lips whereon a delicious smile rested as softly as sunlight on young rose petals where where in god's name had he seen all this marvelous riching maddening loveliness before his heart beat with heavy laboring thuds his brain reeled a dim golden suffused radiance seemed to hover like an aureole above that dazzling white brow adorned with a clustering wealth of raven black tresses his massive coils were crowned with the strangest sort of diadem a wreath of small serpents heads cunningly fashioned in rubies and rose brilliance and said in such a manner that they appeared to lift themselves erect from out the dusky hair as though in darting readiness to sting full of a vague wild longing he instinctively stretched out his arms then on a sudden impulse turned swiftly away in a dizzy effort to escape from the basilisk firegream of those somber haunting eyes that plunged into his inmost soul and there aroused such dark desires such retrospective evil such wild weakness has shamed the betterness of his nature salumas clear mocking laugh just then rang sharply through the perfume stillness thou mad theos wither art thou bound quite the laureate merthly will leave our noble hostess ere the entertainment has begun ungallant barbarian what frenzy possesses thee these words recalled him to himself he came back slowly step by step and with bowed head to where lyceas stood lycea who's penetrating gaze till rested upon him was strangely fixed intensity forgive me he said in a low unsteady voice that to his own ears sounded full of suppressed yet passionate appeal forgive me lady that for one moment i have seemed discourteous i'm not so in very true sad fancies fret my brain at times and and there is that within thine unveil beauty which sword-like wounds my soul i'm not joyous nature unlike saluma chosen favorite of fortune i've lost all that made my life once seemed fair i'm dead to those that love me forgotten by those that honored me a wanderer in strange lands a solitary wayfarer perplexed with many griefs to which i cannot give a name nevertheless and he drew a quick hard breath if i may serve thee fair as lycea as saluma serves thee subject to that sovereign favor thou shalt not find me lacking in obedience command me as thou wilt let me face myself to worship thee let me if it be possible drowned thought slay memory murder conscience so that i may once more as in the old time be glad with the gladness that only love can give and only death can take away as he finished this unpremeditated uncontrollable outburst his eyes wistfully sought hers she met his look with a languid indifference and a half disdainful smile enough restrain thine ardor she said coldly her dark dilating orbs shining like steel beneath the velvet softness of her long lashes thou to speak ignorantly unknowing what thy words involve words to which i well might bind thee where i lest gore bearing to thine inconsiderate rashness how like all men thou art how keen to plunge into unfathomed deeps merely to snatch the pearl of present pleasure how martyr seeming in thy fancied sufferings as though thy little wave of personal sorrow swamp the world oh wondrous human egotism that sees but one great absolute i scrawled on the face of nature i am afflicted let none dare to rejoice i would be glad let none presume to grieve she laughed a little low laugh of icy satire and then resumed i thank thee for thy proffered service sir stranger albeit i need it not nor do i care to claim it at thy hands thou art my guest no more whether thou wilt hereafter deserve to be enrolled my bondsman depends upon that prowess and my humor her beautiful eyes flashed scornfully and there was something cruel in her glance theos felt it sting him like a sharp blow his nerves quivered his spirit rose in arms against the cynical hot tour of this woman whom he loved yes loved with a curious sense of revived passion passion that seemed to have slept in a tomb for ages and that now suddenly sprang into life and being like a fire kindle a new undead ashes acting on a sudden proud impulse he raised his head and looked at her with a bold steadfastness a critical scrutiny a calmly discriminating valuation of her physical charms that for the moment certainly appeared to startle her self-possession for a deep flush colored the fairness of her face and then faded leaving her pale as marble her emotion whatever it was lasted but a second yet in that second he had measured his mental strength against hers and had become aware of his own supremacy this consciousness filled him with peculiar satisfaction he drew a long breath like one narrowly escaped from close peril he had now no fear of her only a great all absorbing all evil love and to that he was recklessly content to yield her eyes dwelt glitteringly first upon him and then on saluma as the eyes of a falcon dwell on its prey and her smile was touched with a little malice as she said addressing them both come fair sirs we will not linger in this wilderness of wildflowers a feast awaits us yonder a feast prepared for those who like yourselves obey the creed of sweet self-indulgence the worldwide creed wherein men find no fault no shadow of inconsistency the truest wisdom is to enjoy the only philosophy that which teaches us our best to gratify our own desires the light cannot satiate the soul nor mirth and gender weariness follow me and with a live movement she swept toward the door her pet tiger is creeping closely after her then suddenly looking back she darted lustously caressing glance over her shoulder at saluma and stretched out her hand he had once caught it in his own and kissed it with an almost brusque eagerness i thought you'd forgotten me you murmured in a vexed half reproach full tone forgotten you forgotten saluma impossible and her silvery laughter shook the air into little robes of music when the greatest port of the age is forgotten then fall alchiris for there shall be no more need of kingdoms laughing still and allowing her hand to remain in his she passed out of the pavilion and theos followed them both as a man might follow the beckoning silks in a very dream a mellow luminous witch-like radiance seemed to surround them as they went two dazzling figures gliding on beforehand with the slow light grace of moonbeams gliding over a smooth ocean they seemed made for each other he could not separate them in his thoughts the strangest part of the matter was the feeling he had that he himself somehow belonged to them and they to him his ideas on the subject however were very indefinite he was in a condition of more or less absolute passiveness save when strong shutters of grief memory remorse or roused passion shook him with sudden force like a storm blast shaking some melancholy cypress his roots are in the grave he mused unless he is scornful words with a perplexed pain was he then so selfish the one great absolute eye scrawled on the face of nature could that apply to him surely not since in his present state of mind he could hardly claim to any distinct personality seeing that that personality was forever merging itself and getting lost in the more clearly perfect identity of saluma whom he regarded with a species of profound hero worship such as one man seldom feels for another to call himself a poet now seem the acme of absurdity how should such in one as he attempt to conquer fame with a rival like saluma already in the field and already supremely victorious full of these fancies he scarcely heated the wonders through which he passed as he followed his two radiant guides along his eyes were tired and rested almost indifferently on the magnificent sense that everywhere surrounded him though here and there certain objects attracted his attention as being curiously familiar these lofty corridors gorgeously frescoed these splendid groups of statuary these palm shaded nooks of verger wear imprisoned nightingales horrible plaintive songs that were all the sweeter for their sadness these spacious marble logeas cooled by the rising and falling spray of myriad fountains did he not dimly recognize all these things he thought so yet was not sure for he had arrived at a pass when he could neither rely on his reason nor his memory not a deeper humiliation could he have than this to feel within himself that he was still an intellectual thinking sentient human being and that yet at the same time his intelligence could do nothing to explicate him from the terrific mystery which had engulfed him like a huge flood and wherein he was now tossed to and fro as helplessly as a floating straw on still on he went treading closely in solemn as footsteps and wistfully noting how often the myrtle garlanded head of his friend drooped caressingly toward licea's dusky perfume locks whence those jeweled serpents fangs darted flashingly upward like light from darkness on still on till at last he found himself in a grand best of view built entirely of sparkling red granite here were ten sphinxes so huge informed that a dozen men might have lounged at ease on each one of their enormous paws they were ranged in rows of five on each side and their coldly meditative eyes appeared to dwell steadfastly on the polished face of a large black disc placed conspicuously on a pedestal in the exact center of the pavement strange letters shown from time to time on this ebony tablet letters that seemed to be written in quick silver they glittered for a second and ran off like phosphorescent drops of water and again reappeared but the same signs were never repeated twice over all were different all were rapid in their coming and going as flashes of lightning licea approaching the disc turned it slightly out of touch it revolved like a flying wheel and for a brief space was literally covered with mysterious characters which the beautiful priestess perused within apparent air of satisfaction all at once the fiery writing vanished the disc was left black and bare and then a silver ball fell suddenly upon it with a clang from some unseen height and rolling off again instantly disappeared at the same moment a harsh voice rising as it were from the deepest underground chanted the following words in a monotonous recita t fall of our lost hour into the dreadful past sink of our pearl of time into the dark unfathomless abyss not all the glory of kings or the wealth of empires can purchase the back again not all the strength of warriors or the wisdom of sages can draw the forth from the abode of silence wither the art fled farewell lost hour and may the gods defend us from thy reproach at the day of doom in the name of the sun and the gaya peace the voice died away in a muffled echo and the slow solemn boom of a brazen tongue bell struck midnight then theos raising his eyes saw that all further progress was impeded by a great wall of solid rock that glistened at every point with flashes of pale and dark violet light a wall composed entirely of adamantine spar crusted thick with the rough growth of oriental amethyst it rose sheer up from the ground to an altitude of about a hundred feet and apparently closed in and completed the vestibule surely there was no passing through such a barrier as this he thought wonderingly nevertheless licea and saluma still went on and he as per force he was compelled still followed arrived at the foot of the huge erection that towered above him like a steep cliff of molten gems he fancied he heard a faint sound behind it as of clinking glasses and boisterous laughter but before he had time to consider what this might mean licea later hand lightly on a small protruding knob of crystal pressed it and low the whole massive structure yonned open suddenly without any noise suspending itself as it were in sparkling festoons of purple stalactites over the voluptuously magnificent scene disclosed at first it was difficult to discern more than a gorgeous maze of swaying light and color as though a great field of tulips and full bloom should be seen waving to and fro in the breath of a soft wind for gradually this bewildering dazzle of golden green violet and crimson resolved itself into a definite form and substance and theo standing beside his two companions on the elevated threshold of the partition through which they had entered was able to look down and survey with tolerable composure the wondrous details of the glittering picture a picture that looked like a fairy fantasy poised in a haze of jewel-like radiance as of vaporized sapphire he saw beneath him a vast circular hall or amphitheater roofed in by a lofty dome of richest malachite from the center of which was suspended a huge globe of fire that revolved with incredible swiftness clinging vivid blood-red rays on the amber colored silken carpets and embroideries that strewed the floor below the dome was supported by rows upon rows of tall tapering crystal columns clear as translucent water and green as the grass and spring and between and beyond these columns on the left hand side there were large oval-shaped casements set wide open to the night through which the gleam of a broad lake laden with water lilies could be seen shimmering in the yellow moon the middle of the hall was occupied by a round table covered with draperies of gold white and green and heaped with all the costly accessories of a sumptuous banquet such as might have been spread before the gods of Olympus in the full height of their legendary prime here were the leather hues of heaped up fruit the tender bloom of scattered flowers the glisten of jeweled flagons and goblets the flash of massive golden dishes carried aloft by black slaves a tired and white and crimson the red glow of poured-out wine and here in the drowsy warmth lounging on da vans of velvet and embroidered satin eating drinking oddly gossiping loudly laughing and occasionally bursting into wild snatches of song where a company of brilliant-looking personages all men all young all handsome all richly clad and all evidently bent on enjoying the pleasures offered by the immediate hour suddenly however their noisy voices ceased with one accord as though drawn by some magnetic spell they all turned their heads toward the platform where Lycia had just silently made her appearance and springing from their seats they broke into a boisterous shout of acclamation and welcome one young man whose flushed face had all the joyous wanton the feminine beauty of a pictured Dionysus reeled forward copies in hand and tossing the wine in air so that it splashed down again at his feet staining his white garments as it fell with a stain as a bud he cried tipsily all hail Lycia where has thou wandered so long thou goddess of morn we've been lost in the blackness of night sunken the depths of a hell like gloom but low now the clouds have broken in the east and our hearts rejoice at the birth of day vanish dull moon and be ashamed for a fairer planet rules the sky hence he stars puny glowworms lazily crawling in the fields of ether Lycia invests the heaven and earth in her smile we live ha art thou there saluma come praise me for my improvised love lines they are as good as thine I warrant the cans compose when they are drunk my dainty laureate drain a cup then and string me at stanza where is thy fool Zabastis I would feign to cool his long ears with ribble rhyme and harken to the barber's praying forth with his ass nine reflections Lycia what Lycia does thou frown at me frown not sweet queen but rather laugh thy laughter kills to stir but I frown doth torture spirits after death unbend thy brows night looms between them like a chaos we will have no more night I say but only noon a long languorous lovely noon flower girdle and sunbeam clad with roses roses roses crown my head for my days of few and remember sweet when I'm dead that my heart was true singing unsteadily with the empty goblet upside down in his hand he looked up laughing his bright eyes flashing with a wild feverish fire his fair hair tossed back from his brows and entangled in a half crushed wreath of vine leaves his rich garments disordered his whole demeanor that of one possessed by a semi delirium a sensuous pleasure and all at once meeting Lycia's keen glance he started as though he had been suddenly stabbed the goblet fell from his clasp and a visible shutter ran through his strong sepal frame the low coal merciless laughter of the beautiful priestess cut through the air hissingly like the sweeper cemetery though at wondrous merry nerve-jealous she said in languid lazily enunciated accents notice though not that too much mirth engenders weeping and that excessive rejoicing hath its fitting end in grievous limitation nay even now already thou lookest more sadly what sombre cloud has crossed thy wine-hued heaven be happy while thou mayest good fool i blame thee not sooner later all things must end in the meantime make thou the most of life while life remains tis at its best an uncertain heritage then once rashly squandered can never be restored either here or hereafter the words were gently almost tenderly spoken but in her jealous hearing them grew white as death the smile faded leaving his lips set when stern as the lips of a marble mask stooping he raised his fallen goblet and held it out almost mechanically to a passing slave who refilled it with wine which he drank off thirstily at a draught though the generous liquid brought no color back to his drawn and ashy features licea paid no further heed to his evident discomforture bidding saluma and theos follow her she descended the few steps that led from the raised platform into the body of the variant hall the rocky screen of amethyst closed behind her as noiselessly as it had opened and in another moment she stood among her assembled guests who once surrounded her with eager salutations and gracefully worded flatteries smiling on them all with that strange smile of hers that was more scornful than sweet and yet so infinitely bewitching she said little in answer to their greetings she moved as a queen moves through a crowd of courtiers the varied light of crimson and green playing about her like so many sparkles of living flame her dark head wreathed with those dualed serpents lifting itself proudly erect from her muffling golden mantle and her eyes shining with that frosty gleam of mockery which made them look so lustrous yet so cold and now theos perceived that at one end of the splendid banquet table a dais was erected draped richly incarnation colored silk and that on this day as the throne was placed the throne composed entirely of black crystals whose needle-like points sparkled with a dark flash as of bayonets seen through the smoke of battle it was cushioned in black velvet and above it was a bent arch of ivory on which glittered a twisted snake of clustered emeralds with that slow superb ease that distinguished all her actions I see attended closely by her tigress mounted the dais and as she did so a loud clash of brazen bells rang out from some invisible turf beyond the summit of the great dome at the sound of the jangling chime four negruses appeared goblin creatures that looked as though they had suddenly sprung from some sooty subterranean region of gnomes and humbly prostrating themselves before licea kissed the ground at her feet this time they rose and began to undo the fastenings of her golden domino light garment but either they were slow or the fair priestess was impatient for she suddenly shook herself free of their hands and loosening the gorgeous mantle herself from its jewel clasps it fell slowly from her symmetrical form on the perfume floor with a rustle as the falling leaves a sigh quivered audibly through the room whether of grief joy hope relief or despair it was difficult to tell the pride and peril of a matchless loveliness was revealed in all its fatal seductiveness and invincible strength the irresistible perfection of woman's beauty was openly displayed to bewilder the sight and rouse the reckless passions of man who could look on such delicate dangerous witching charms unmoved who could gaze on the exquisite outlines of a form fairer than that of any sculptured Venus and refused to acknowledge his powerfully sweet attraction the virgin priestess of the sun has stepped out of her shrine no longer a creature removed impersonal and sacred she'd become most absolutely human nor over she might now have been taken for a bakon the dancer or any other unsexed example of womanhood in as much as with her golden mantle she had thrown off all disguise of modesty her beautiful limbs rounded and smooth as pearl could be plainly discerned through the filmy garb of silvery tissue that clung like a pale mist about the voluptuous curves of her figure and floated behind her in shining gossamer folds her dazzling white neck and arms were bare and from slim wrists to snowy shoulder little 20 diamond snakes glistened in closed coils against the velvety fairness of her flesh a silver servant with a head of sapphires girdled her waist and just above the full wave of her bosom that rose and fell visibly beneath the transparent gathers of her gauzy drapery shown a large fiery jewel fashioned in the semblance of a human eye this singular ornament was so lifelike as to be absolutely repulsive it doesn't move to and fro with its wearer's breathing it seemed now to stare aghast a non-toflash wickedly as with a thought of evil while more often still is assumed arrestlessly watchful expression as though it were the eye of a fiend inquisitor intent on the detection of some secret treachery poise between those fair white breasts a glared forth a glittering menace a warning of an imagine of a horror and Theo's gazing edit fixedly felt a curious thrill run through him as if so to speak a hook of steel had been suddenly thrust into his squivering veins to draw him steadily and securely on towards some pitfall of unknown tortures then he remembered what Solomon had said about the all-reflecting eye the weird mirror and potent dazzler of human sight and wondered whether its mystical properties were such as to compel men to involuntarily declare their inmost thoughts for it seemed to him that its sinister glow penetrated into the very deepest recesses of his mind and there discovered all the hidden weaknesses follies and passions of the worst side of his nature he trembled and grew faint his day's eyes wandered over the dainty grace and marvel of licea's almost unclad loveliness with mingled emotions of allurement and repugnance fascinated yet at the same time repelled his soul yearned toward her as the soul of the night and the Laura Lee legend yearned toward the singing Rhine Siren whose embrace was destruction and then he became filled with a strange sudden fear fear not for himself but for Saluma whose ardent glance burned into her dark languid-litted amorous orbs with a luster flame meeting flame Saluma whose beautiful flushed face was as that of a god inspired or a lover triumphant what could he do to shield and save this so idolized front of his this dear familiar for whom he had such close and ever increasing sympathy might he not possibly guard him in some way and ward off impending danger but what danger what spectral shadow of dread hovered above this brilliant scene of high-feasting envelopchuous revelry none that he could imagine or define and yet he was conscious of an ominous unuttered premonition of peril in the very air peril for Saluma always for Saluma never for himself self seemed dead and entombed forever involuntarily lifting his eyes to the great green dome where the globe of fire twirled rapidly like a rolling star he saw some words written round it in golden letters they were large and distinct and ran thus live in the now but questioned out the afterwards a wise axiom yet almost the platitude for did not everyone occupy themselves exclusively with the now regardless of future consequences of course uber sages or fools would stop to question the afterwards just then licea ascended for black crystal throne in all her statuesque majesty and singing indolently amid its sable cushions where she's shown in her wonderful whiteness like a glistening pearl said in ebony she signed to her guest to resume their place as a table she was instantly obeyed Saluma took what was evidently is a custom pose to her right hand while the use found a vacant corner on her left next to the picturesque lounging figure of the young man nerve jaws who looked up at him with a half smile as he seated himself and courteously made more room for him among the tumbled emerald silk diapers of the luxurious devan they now shared together near jaws was by no means sober but he had recovered a little of his self-possession since licea's sleepy eyes had darted such cold contempt upon him and he seemed for the present to be on his guard against giving any further possible cause of offense thou art a newcomer a stranger if i mistake not he inquired in a low abrupt yet kindly tone yes replied the use in the same soft so to vote a i'm a mere sojourn in alchiris for a few days only the guest of the divine Saluma nerve jaws raised his eyebrows with an expression of amused wonder divine he ejaculated by my faith what neophyte have we here and supporting himself on one elbow he stared at his companion as though he saw in him some singular human phenomenon does that really believe he went on justingly in the divinity of poets does they'll think they write what they mean or practice what they preach then art thou the various innocent that ever wore the muscular semblance of man poets my friend are the most absolute imposters they validize their rhymed music on phases of emotion they have never experienced as for instance our laureate yonder will string a pretty sonnet on the despair of love he knowing nothing of despair he will write of a broken heart his own being unpricked by so much as a pin's point of trouble and he was speaking his verse so of dying before love when he would not let his little finger ache for the sake of a woman who worshiped him looked not so vaguely to so indeed and asked for the divine part of him wait but a little and now shall see thy poet god become a satan he laughed maliciously and theos felt an angry flush rising to his brows he could not bear to hear salima thus lightly maligned even by this half drunken reveler it stung him to the quick as if he personally were included in the implied accusation of unworthiness nijales perceived his annoyance and added good naturedly tajman bex not by soul as to thy friends virtues or vices what are they to thee and if true salima is no worse than the rest of us all i maintain is that he is certainly no better i've known many poets in my day and they are all more or less alike petulant as babes pvcs as women selfish as misers and conceited as peacocks they should be different oh yes they should be the perpetual youth of mankind the faithful singers of love idealized and made perfect but then none of us are what we ought to be besides if we were all virtuous by the guys the world would become too dull a hole to live in enough will drink with me i'm beckoning a slave he had his own goblet and that a theos filled to the brim with wine to our more intimate acquaintance he said smilingly and theos somewhat captivated by the easy courtesy of his manner could do no less than respond cordially to the proffered toes at that moment a triumphant burst of music like the sound of mingled flutes hopeboys and hearts pushed through the dome like a strong wind sweeping in from the sea and with it the humming buzz of conversation began in good earnest theos lifting his gaze toward licea's seed saw that she was now surrounded by the four attendant negresses who standing to on each side of her throne held large fans of peacock plumes which as they were waved slowly to him fro emitted a thousand scintillations of jewel-like splendor a slave a tired and scarlet knelt in one knee before her proffering a golden salver loaded with his choices fruits and wines a lazy smile played on her lips lips that out rivaled the dewy tint of half-opening roses the serpents in her hair and on her rounded arms quivered in the light like living things the great symbolic eye glanced wickedly out from the white beauty of her heaving breast and as he surveyed her thus resplendent in all the startling seductiveness of her dangerous charms her loveliness entranced and intoxicated him like the faint perfume of some rare and powerful exotic his senses seemed to sink drowningly in the well-meaning influence of her soft and dazzling grace and though he still resented he could not resist her mesmeric power no wonder he thought that saluma's eyes darkened with passions as they dwelt on her and i wonder that he like saluma was content to be gently but surely drawn within the glittering web of her magic spell a spell fatal yet to bewilderingly sweet for human strength to fight against the mysterious sense he had of danger lurking somewhere for saluma applied so he fancied in no way to himself it did not much matter what happened to him he was a mere nobody he could be of no use anywhere he was as one banished into strange exile his brain that brain he had once deemed so clear so subtle so eminently reasoning and all comprehensive was now nothing but a chaotic confusion of vague suggestions and only served to very slightly guide him in the immediate present giving him no practical clue at all as to the past through which he had lived or the circumstances he most wished to remember he was a fool a dreamer ungifted and unfamous were he to die not a soul will regret his loss his own fate therefore concerned in little he could handle fire recklessly not feel the flame he could so he believed run any risk and yet escape comparatively free of harm but with saluma it was different saluma must be guarded and cherished his was a valuable life the life of a genius such as the world sees but once in a century and it should not so theos determined be imperiled or wasted no not even for the sake of the sensuous exquisite conquering beauty of this dazzling priestess of the sun the fairest sorceress that ever triumphed over the frail yet immortal spirit of man in the chapter 17 chapter 18 of our death by Marie Corelli this LibriVox recording is in the public domain the love that kills how the time went he could not tell in so gay and gorgeous as seen ours might easily pass with the swiftness of unmarked moments peals of laughter echoed now and again through the vaulted dome and excited voices were frequently raised in clamorous disputations and contentious arguments that only just sheared off the boundary line of an actual quarrel all sorts of topics were discussed the laws the existing mode of government the latest discoveries in science and the military prowess of the king but the conversation chiefly turned on the spread of disloyalty atheism and republicanism among the population of al-kiris and the influence of coast rule on the minds of the lower classes the episode of the prophet's late capture and fresh escape seemed to be perfectly well known to all present though it had occurred so recently one would have thought the detailed account of it had been received through some private telephone communicating with the king's palace as the banquet progressed and the wine flowed more lavishly the assembled guests grew less and less circumspect in their general behavior they flung themselves full length on their luxurious couches and the laziest attitudes now pulling out handfuls of flowers from the tall porcelain jars that stood near and pelting one another with them for mere idle diversion now summoning the attendant slaves to refill their wine cups while they lay lounging at ease among their heaped up cushions of silk and embroidery and yet with all the voluptuous freedom of their manners the picturesque grace that distinguished them was never wholly destroyed these young men were dissolute but not coarse bold but not vulgar they took their pleasure in a delicately wanton fashion that was infinitely more dangerous and its influence on the mind then would have been the gross mirth and broad jesting of a similar number of uneducated plebeians the rude licentiousness of an uncultivated bore has its safety vow in disgust and satiety but the soft innervating sensualism of a trained and cultured epicurean aristocrat is a moral poison whose effects are so insidious as to be scarcely felt till all the native nobility of character has withered and not as left of a man but the shadow wreck of his former self there was nothing repulsive in the half-ironical half mischievous merriment of these patrician revelers their witticisms were brilliant and pointed but never indelicate and if their darker passions were roused and ready to run riot they showed as yet no sign of it they enjoyed yes with that selfish animal enjoyment and love of personal indulgence which all men old and young without exception take such delight in unless indeed they be sworn and sorrowful anchorites and even then you may be sure they are always regretting the easy license and libertinage of their bygone days of unbridled independence when they could foster their pet weaknesses cherish their favorite vices and laugh at all creeds and all morality as though divine justice were a mere empty name and they themselves the super essence of creation what a ridiculous spectacle is man the two-legged pygmy of limited brain and still more limited sympathies that standing arrogantly on his little grave the earth coolly criticizes the universe settles law and measures his puny stature against that awful unknown force deeply hidden but majestically existent which for want of ampler designation we call god god whom some of us will scarcely recognize save with the mixture of doubt levity and general reluctance god whom we never obey unless obedience is enforced by calamity god whom we never truly love because so many of us prefer to stake our chances of the future on the possibility of his non existence strangely enough thoughts of this god this despised and forgotten creator came wandering hazely over theos's mind at the present moment when glancing round the splendid banquet table he studied the different faces of all assembled and saw self self self indelibly impressed on every one of them not a single countenance was there that did not openly betray the complacent hauteur and tranquil vanity of absolute egotism saluma's especially but then saluma had something to be proud of his genius it was natural that he should be satisfied with himself he was a great man but was it well for even a great man to admire his own greatness this was a pertinent question and somewhat difficult to answer a genius must surely be more or less conscious of his superiority to those who have no genius yet why may it not happen on occasions that the so-called fool shall teach a lesson to the so-called wise man then where is the wise man's superiority if a fool can instruct him theos found these suggestions curiously puzzling they seemed simple enough and yet they opened up a vista of intricate disquisition which he was in no humor to follow to escape from his own reflections he began to pay close attention to the conversation going on around him and listened with an eager almost painful interest whenever he heard licea's sweet languid voice chiming through the clatter of men's tongues like the silver stroke of a small bell ringing in a storm at sea and how hast thou left that pale beauty nefrada she was asking saluma in half cold half caressing accents does her singing still charm thee as of yore i understand that has given her her freedom is that prudent was she not safer as thy slave saluma glanced up quickly in surprise safer she is as safe as a rose in its green sheath he replied what harm should come to her i spoke not of harm said licea with a lazy smile but the day may come good menstrual when thy sheath rose may seek some newer sunshine than thy face when thy much poise may fall upon her spirit and thy love songs grow stale and she may string her heart to a different tune than the perpetual adoration hymn of saluma the handsome warrior looked amused let her do so then he laughed carelessly where is she to leave me i should not miss her greatly a thousand pieces of gold will purchase me another voice as sweet as hers another mate is there meanwhile the child is free to shape her own fate her own future i bind her no longer to my service nevertheless like the jesemine flower she clings and will not easily unwind the tendrils of her heart from mine poor jesemine flower murmured licea negligently with the touch of malice in her tongue what a rock it doth embrace how little vantage grounded hath wherein to blossom and her drowsy eyes shot forth a fiery glance from under their heavily fringed drooping white lids saluma met her look with one of mingled vexation and reproach she smiled and raising a goblet of wine to her lips kissed the brim and gave it to him with an indescribably graceful swaying gesture of her whole form that reminded one of a tall white lily bowing in the breeze he sees the cup eagerly drank from it and returned it his momentary annoyance whatever it was past and a joyous elation illumined his fine features then licea refilling the cup kissed it again and handed it to theos with so much soft animation and tenderness in her face as she turned to him that his enforced calmness newly gave way and he had much adieu to restrain himself from falling at her feet in a transport of passion and crying out love me oh thou sorceress sovereign of beauty love me if only for an hour and then let me die for I shall have lived out all the joys of light in one embrace of thine his hand trembled as he took the goblet and he drank half its contents thirstily then imitating saluma's example he returned it to her with her profound salutation her eyes dwelt meditatively upon him what a dark still melancholy countenance is thine serpio she said abruptly thou art for sure a man of strongly repressed and concentrated passions does the nature I love I would there were more of thy proud and chilly temperament in alcaras our men are like velvet winged butterflies drinking honey all day and browsing in sunshine full to the brows of folly frail and delicate as the little dancing maidens of the king's seraglio nervous too with weak heads that are apt to ache on small provocation and bodies that are apt to fail easily win but slightly fatigued I thou art a man clothed complete in manliness moreover she paused and leaning forward so that the dark shower of her perfumed hairbrushed design has never heard travelers talk of volcanoes those marvelous mountains that oft wear crowns of ice on their summits and yet hold unquenchable fire in their depths me thinks thou dost resemble these and that at a touch the flames would leap forth uncontrolled her magical low voice more melodious in tone than the sound of harps played by moonlight on the water thrilled in his ears and set his pulses beating madly with an effort he checked the torrent of love words that rushed to his lips and looked at her in a sort of wildly wandering appeal her laughter rang out in silvery sweet ripples and throwing herself lazily back in her throne she called I see I see the great Tigris instantly bounded forward like an obedient hound and placed his four paws on her knees while she playfully held her sugar comfort high above its head up I see up she cried merthly up and be like a man for once snatch thy pleasure at all hazards with a roar the savage brute leaped and sprang its sharp white teeth fully displayed its sly green eyes glisteningly prominent and again licea's rich laughter peeled forth mingling with the impatient snarls of her terrific favorite still she held the tempting morsel in her little snowy hand that glittered all over with rare gems and still the Tigris continued to make impotent attempts to reach it growing more and more ferocious with every fresh effort till all at once she shut her palm upon the dainty so that it could not be seen and lightly catching the irritated beast by the throat brought its eyes on a level with her own the effect was instantaneous a strong shutter passed through its frame and it cowered and crouched lower and lower in abject fear the sweat broke out and stood in large drops on its sleek hide and panting heavily as the firm grasp its mistress slowly relaxed it sank down prone in trembling abasement on the second step of the day is still looking up into those densely brilliant gazelle eyes that were full of such deadly fascination and merciless tyranny good eyes said licea then in that languid soft voice that while so sweet suggested hidden treachery gentle fondling thou has fairly earned thy reward here take it and enclosing her rosy palm she showed the desired bon bouche and offered it with a pretty coaxing air but the Tigris now refused to touch it and lay it still as an animal of painted stone what a true philosopher she is my sweet eyes eat she went on amusedly stroking the creature's head her feminine wit teaches her what the dull brains of men can never grasp namely that pleasures no matter how sweet turned to ashes and wormwood when once obtained and that the only happiness in this world is the charm of desire there is a subject for thee saluma right an immortal ode on the mysteries the delights the never-ending ravishment of desire but carry not thy fancy on to desires fulfillment for there thou shalt find infinite bitterness the soul that will fully gratifies its dearest wish has stripped life of its supremous joy and stands thereafter in an empty sphere sorrowful and alone with nothing left to hope for nothing to look forward to save death the end of all ambition nay fair lady said the oh suddenly we who deem ourselves the children of the high gods and the offspring of a spirit eternal may surely aspire to something beyond this death that like a black seal closes up the brief scroll of our merely human existence and to us therefore ambition should be ceaseless for if we master the world there are yet more worlds to win and if we find one heaven we do but accept it as a pledge of other heavens beyond it the aspirations of man are limitless hence his best assurance of immortality else why should he perpetually long for things that here are impossible of attainment things that like faint floating clouds rimmed with light suggest without declaring a glory unperceived lycea looked at him steadfastly an under gleam of malice shining in her slumberous eyes why because good sir the gods love mirth and the wanton immortals are never more thoroughly diverted than when leaning downward from their clear imperian they behold man their insect toy irrigating to himself a share in their imperishable essence to keep up the eternal jest they torture him with vain delusions and prick him on with hopes never to be realized I and the whole vast heaven may well shake with thunderous laughter at the pride with which he doth put forth his puny claim to be elected to another and fairer state of existence what hath he done what does he do to merit a future life are his deeds so noble is his wisdom so great is his mind so stainless he the oppressor of all nature and of his brother man he the insolent self-opinionated tyrant yet bound slave of the earth on which he dwells why should he live again and carry his ignoble presence into the splendors of an eternity too vast for him to comprehend nay nay I perceive thou art one of the credulous for whom a reasonless worship to an unproved deity is for the sake of state policy maintained I have thought thee wiser but no matter thou shall pay thy vows to the shrine of nega yet tomorrow and see with what glorious pomp and panoply we impose on the faithful who like thee believe in their own deathless and divinely constituted natures and enjoy to the full the grand conceit that persuades them of their right to immortality her words carried with them a certain practical positiveness of meaning and the us was somewhat impressed by their seeming truth after all it was a curious and unfounded conceit of a man to imagine himself the possessor of an immortal soul and yet if all things were the outcome of a divine creative influence was it not unjust of that creative influence to endow all humanity with such a belief if it had no foundation whatever and could injustice be associated with divine law he theos for instance was certain of his own immortality so certain that surrounded as he was by this brilliant company of evident atheists he felt himself to be the only real and positive existing being among an assembly of shadow figures but it was not the time or the place to enter into a theological discussion especially with licea and for the moment at least he allowed her assertions to remain uncontradicted he sat however in a somewhat stern silence now and then glancing wistfully and anxiously at saluma on whom the potent wines were beginning to take effect and who had just thrown himself down on the dais that licea's feet close to the tigress that still lay couched there in immovable quiet he was a picture worthy of the grandest painter's brush that glistening throne black is jet with the fair form of licea shining within it like a white sea nymph that rests in a grotto of oceans still actites the fantastically attired negruses on each side with their waving peacock plumes the vivid carnation color of the dais against which the black and yellow stripes of the tigress showed up in strong and brilliant contrast and the graceful jewel deck figure of the poet laureate who half sitting half reclining on a black velvet cushion leaned his handsome head indolently against the silvery folds of licea's robe and looked up at her with eyes in which burned the ardent admiration and scarcely restrained passion of a privileged lover suddenly and quite involuntarily theos thought of nefrada alas poor maiden how utterly her devotion to saluma was wasted what did he care for her timid tenderness her unselfish worship nothing less than nothing he was entirely absorbed by the sovereign peerless beauty of this wonderful high priestess this witch like weaver spells more potent than those of sursey amusing their on theos was sorry for nefrada he knew not why he felt that she had somehow been wrong that she suffered and that he as well as saluma was in some mysterious way to blame for this though he could by no means account for his own share in the dimly suggested reproach this peculiar remorseful emotion was transitory like all the vaguely incomplete ideas that traveled mystically through his perplexed brain and he soon forgot it in the increasing animation and interest of the scene that immediately surrounded him the general conversation was becoming more and more noisy and the laughter more and more boisterous several of the young men were now very much the worst where their frequent libations and nerjalas particularly began again to show mark symptoms of an inclination to break loose from all the bounds of prudent reserve he lay full length on his silk the van his feet touching theos who sat upright and singing little snatches of song to himself he pulled the vine wreath from his tumbled fair locks as though he found it too weighty and flung it on the ground among the other debris of the feast then folding his arms lazily behind his head he stared straight and fixedly before him had licea seeming to note every jewel on her dress every curve of her body every slight gesture of her hand every faint cold smile that played on her lovely lips one young man whom the others are dressed as or maz a haughty handsome fellow enough though with rather a sneering mouth just visible under his black mustache was talking somewhat excitedly on the subject of coast rules cunningly devised flight for it seemed to be universally understood that the venerable prophet was one of the circle of mystics person whose knowledge of science especially in matters connected with electricity enabled them to perform astonishing juggleries that were frequently accepted by the uninitiated vulgar as almost divine miracles not very long ago according to or maz who was animatedly recalling the circumstance for the benefit of the company the words fall alkyris had appeared emblazoned in letters of fire on the sky at midnight and the phenomenon had been accompanied by two tremendous valleys of thunder to the infinite consternation of the multitude who received it as a supernatural manifestation but a member of the king's privy council a satirical skeptic and mistrust of everybody's word by his own undertook to sift the matter and adopting the dress of the mystics managed to introduce himself into one of their secret assemblies where with considerable astonishment he saw the make use of a small wire by means of which they wrote in characters of azure flame on the whiteness of a blank wall moreover he discovered that they possessed a lofty turret built secretly and securely in a deep unfrequented grove of trees from whence with the aid of various curious instruments and reflectors they could fling out any pattern or device they chose on the sky so that it should seem to be written by the finger of lightning having elucidated these mysteries and become highly edified thereby the learned counselor returned to the king and gave full information as to the result of his researches where upon 40 mystics were at once arrested and flung into prison for life and their nefarious practices were made publicly known to all the inhabitants of the city since then no so-called spiritual demonstrations had taken place till now when on this very night zephyr anams presence chamber had been suddenly enveloped in the thunderous and terrifying darkness which had so successfully covered coast rules escape the king should have slain him at once declared ormas emphatically turning to lycea as he spoke i'm surprised that his majesty permitted so flagrant and imposter and trespasser of the law to speak one word or live one moment in his royal presence though art surprised ormas at most things especially those which savor of simple good nature and forbearance responded lycea coldly thou art a wolfish youth and would stare thine own brother to shreds if he thwarted thy pleasure for myself i see little cause for astonishment that a soldier hero like zephyr anam should take some pity on so frail and age of direct of human wit as coast rule coast rule blasphemes the faith what then do ye not all blaspheme not in the open streets said ormas hastily no ye have not the medal for that and lycea smiled darkly while the great eye on her breast flashed forth a sardonic luster strong as ye all are and young ye lack the bravery of the weak old man who mad as he may be has at least the courage of his opinions who is there here that believes in the sun as a god or an agaia as a mediator not one but ye are cultured hypocrites all and careful to keep your heresy secret and thou lycea suddenly cried nerd jealous why if thou canst so liberally admire the valor of thy sworn enemy coast rule why does not thou step boldly forth and abjure the faith thou art priestess of yet in thy heart deridest as a miserable superstition she turned her splendid flashing orb slowly upon him what an awful chill steely glitter leaped forth from their velvet soft depths pretty be heedful of thy speech goodner jealous she said with a quiver in her voice curiously like the suppressed snarl of her pet tigress the majority of men are fools like thee and need to be ruled according to their folly or ma's broken to laugh and thou dost rule them wise virgin with a rod of iron he said satirically the king himself is but a slave in thy hands the king is a devout believer remarked a dainty effeminate looking youth a raid in a wonderfully picturesque garb of glistening purple he pays his vows to magiah three times a day at sunrise noon and sunset and to set he hath off been seen of late and silent meditation alone before the sacred veil even after midnight maybe he is there at this very moment offering up a royal petition for those of his last pious subjects who like ourselves love good wine more than long prayers ah he is a most austere noble monarch a very anchorite and pattern of strict religious discipline and he shook his head to and fro with an air of mock solemn fervor everyone laughed and or ma's playfully through a cluster of half crushed roses at the speaker hold thy foolish tongue far in him he said the king doth but show a fitting example to his people there is a time to pray and a time to feast and our zeffron can do both as becomes a man but of his midnight meditations i've heard not since when hath he deserted his court of love for the colder chambers of the sacred temple ask lycea muttered nerjalis drowsley under his breath she knows more of the king than she cares to confess his words were spoken in a low voice and yet they were distinct enough for all present to hear a glance of absolute dismay went round the table and a breathless silence followed like the ominous hush of a heated atmosphere before a thunder clap nerjalis apparently struck by the sudden stillness looked lazily round from among the tumble cushions where he reclined a vacant tipsy smile on his lips what a company of mutes you are he said thickly did ye not hear me i bad ye ask lycea and all at once he sat bolt upright his face crimsoning as with an access of passion ask lycea he repeated loudly ask her why the mighty zeffronum creeps in and out the sacred temple at midnight like a skulking slave instead of a king at midnight when he should be shut within his palace walls playing the fool among his women i warrant it is not piety that persuades him to wander through the underground passage of the tombs alone and in disguise saluma pretty pampered hound as thou art thou art near enough to our lady of witcheries ask her ask her she knows and his voice sank into an incoherent murmur she knows more than she cares to confess another deep and deathlike pause in suit and then lycea's silvery cold tones smote the profound silence with calm clear resonance friend nerjalis she said how tuneful were her accents how chilly sweet her smile me thinks thou art grown altogether too wise for this world to his pity thou shouldest continue to linger in so narrow and in complete a sphere depart hence therefore i shall freely excuse thine absence since thy hour has come and taking from the table at her side a tall crystal chalice fashioned in the form of a lily set on a golden stem she held it up toward him starting wildly from his couch he looked at her as though doubting whether he had heard her words are right a strong shutter shook him from head to foot his hands clenched themselves convulsively together and then slowly slowly he staggered to his feet and stood upright he was suddenly but if actually sobered the flush of intoxication died off his cheeks and his eyes grew strained and piteous the ous watching him and wondering fear saw his broad chest heave with the rapid drawn gasping of his breath he advanced a step or two then all at once stretched out his hands in imploring agony lycea he murmured heskily lycea pardon spare me for the sake of past love have pity at this saluma sprang up from his lounging posture on the dais his hand on the hilt of his dagger his whole face flaming with wrath by my soul he cried what got this fellow prayed out past love thou profane boaster how darest thou speak of love to the priestess of the faith no jealous heeded him not his eyes were fixed on lycea like the eyes of our tortured animal who vainly seeks for mercy at the hand of its destroyer step by step he came hesitatingly to the foot of her throne and it was then that theos perceived near at hand a personage he immediately recognized the black scarlet clad slave gazia who had brought lycea's message to saluma that same afternoon he had made his appearance now so swiftly and silently that it was impossible to tell where he had come from and he stood close to nerve jealous his muscular arms folded tightly across his chest and his hideous mouth contorted into a grin of cruel amusement and expectancy absolute quiet reigned within the magnificent banquet hall the music had ceased and now the sound could be heard save the delicate murmur of the wind outside swaying the water lilies on the moonlit lake everyone's attention was centered on the unhappy young man who with lifted head and rigidly clasped pans faced lycea as a criminal faces a judge lycea whose dazzling smile beamed upon him with the brightness of summer sunbeams lycea whose exquisite voice lost none of its richness as she spoke his doom by the vow which thou hast vowed to me near jealous she said slowly and by thine oath sworn on the symbolic eye of rafan here she touched the dreadful jewel on her breast which bound thy life to my keeping and thy death to my day of choice i herewith bestow on thee the chalice of oblivion the silver nectar of peace sleep and wake no more drink and die the gateways of the kingdom of silence stand open to receive thee thy service is finished fare thee well with the utterance of the last word she gave him the glittering cup she held he took it mechanically and for one instant glared about him on all sides scanning the faces of the attempted guests as though in the faint hope of some pity some attempt to rescue but not a single look of compassion was bestowed upon him saved by theos who full of struggling amazement and horror would have broken out into indignant remonstrance had not an imperative glance from saluma warned him that any interference on his part would only make matters worse he therefore sorely against his will and only for saluma's sake kept silence watching her jealous meanwhile in a sort of horrible fascination there was something truly awful in the radiant unquenchable laughter that lurked in lycea's lovely eyes something positively devilish in the grace of her manner as with a negligent movement she receded herself in her crystal throne and taking a knot of magnolia flowers that labor cider idly toyed with their creamy buds all the while keeping her basilisk gaze fixed immovably and red lentlessly on her sentenced victim he grasping the lily shaped chalice convulsively in his right hand looked up despairingly to the polished dome of malachi with his revolving globa fire that shed a solemn blood red glow upon his agonized young face a smile was on his lips the dreadful smile of desperate maddened misery oh ye malignant gods he cried fiercely immortal theories that made woman for man's torture bear witness to my death bear witness to my parting spirits malediction cursed be they who love unwisely and too well cursed be all the wiles of desire and the haunts of dear passion cursed be all fair faces whose fairness lures men to destruction cursed be the warmth of caresses the beating of heart against heart the kisses that color midnight with fire cursed be love from birth and to death may its sweetness be brief and its bitterness endless its delight is snare and its promise treachery oh ye mad lovers fools all and he turned his splendid wild eyes round on the hushed assemblage despise me in my words as you will throughout ages to come the curse of the dead nor jealous shall cling he lifted the goblet to his lips and just in his delirious glance lighted on saloon I drink to thee sir laureth he said hoarsely and with a ghastly attempt at levity seeing as sweetly as thou wilt thou must drain the same cup ere long and without another seconds hesitation he drank off the entire contents of the chalice out of draft scarcely had he done so when with a savage scream he fell prone on the ground his limbs twisted in acute agony his features hideously contorted his hands beating the air wildly as though in contention with some invisible foe while in strange and terrible dissonance with his tortured cries I see his laughter music lamella broke out in little quick peels like the laughter of a very young child ah ah nojala she exclaimed thou dost suffer that as well I do rejoice to see the fighting for life and the very jaws of death feign would I have all men thus tortured out of their proud and tyrannous existence their strength made strengthless their arrogance brought to naught their egotism and bane glory beaten to the dust ah ah thou that were the complacent braggart of love the self-sufficient proclamer of thine own prowess whereas thy boast of vigor now writhe on good fool thy little day is done all honor to the silver vector whose venom never fails leaning forward eagerly she clapped her hands in a sort of fierce ecstasy and apparently startled by the sound the tigress rose up from its countian posture and shaking itself with a snarling yawn glared watchfully at the convulsed human wretch whose struggles became with each moment more and more frightful to witness the impassive cold-blooded calmness with which all the men present even saluma looked on at the revolting spectacle of their late comrade's torture filtheos with shattering apporance sick at heart he strove to turn away his eyes from the straining throat and upturned face of a miserable nojala's a face that had a moment or two before been beautiful but was now so disfigured as to be almost beyond recognition presently as the anguish of the poison victim increased shriek after shriek broke from his powdered lips rolling himself on the ground like a wild beast he bit his hands and arms in his frenzy till he was covered with blood and again and yet again the dulcet laughter of the high priestess echoed through the length and breadth of the splendid hall and even saluma the poet saluma condescended to smile that smile so cold so cruel so unpedding made the use for a moment hating of what use he thought was it to be a writer of soft and delicate verse if the inner nature of the man was merciless selfish and utterly regardless of the woes of others the rest of the guests were profoundly indifferent they kept silence it is true but they went on drinking their wine with perfectly unabated enjoyment they were evidently accustomed to such scenes the attendant slaves stood all mute emotionless with the exception of gazra who surveyed the torments and their jealous with an era professional interest and appeared to be waiting till they should have reached that pitch of excruciating agony when nature exhausted gives up the conflict and welcomes death as a release from pain but this desirable end was not yet suddenly springing to his feet and her jealous tore open his richly jeweled vest and pressed his two hands hard upon his heart the veins in his flesh were swollen and blue his labored breath seemed as though it must break his ribs in his terrible panting struggle his face livid and lined with purple marks like heavy bruises bore not a single trace of its former fairness and his eyes rolled up and fixed glassedly in their quivering socket seemed to be dreadfully filled with the speechless memory of his lately spoken curse he staggered toward theos and dropped heavily on his knees kill me he moaned piteously feebly pointing to the she'd dagger in the other's belt in mercy kill me one thrust release me this agony is more than i can bear kill kill his voice died away in and in articulate gasping cry and theos stared down upon him in dizzy fear and horror for he had seen the same mergillus dying thus cruelly before oh god where where had this tragedy been previously enacted bewildered and overcome with unspeakable dread he drew his dagger he would at least he thought put the torture sufferer out of his misery but scarcely had his weapon left the sheathmen like see his clear cold voice exclaimed disarm him in with the silent rapidity about lightning flash gazer glided to his side and the steel was snatched from his hand full of outrage pride and wrath he sprang up a torrent of words rushing to his lips but before he could utter one two slaves pounced upon him and holding his arms dexterously wound a silk scarf tied about his mouth be silent whispered someone in his ear as you value your life in the life of saluma be silent but he cared nothing for this warning reckless of consequences he tore the scarf away and breaking loose from the hands that helgen made a bound poured lycea he repossed her eyes met his languidly shedding a somber mysterious light upon him through the black shower of her abundant hair the evil glitter of the great symbolic gem she wore fixed him with its stony yet mesmeric lustre a delicious smile part of her rosy lips and breaking off a magnolia bud from the cluster she held she kissed and gave it to him be at peace good deal she sit in the low tender tone beware of taking up arms in the defense of the unworthy rather reserve thy courage for those who know how best to reward thy service as one in a trance he took the flower she offered his fragrance subtle and sweet seemed to steal into his veins and robbed his manhood of all strength sinking submissively at her feet he gazed up at her in wondering wistfulness and ardent admiration never was there a woman so bewilderingly beautiful as she what were the sufferings of their jealous now what was anything compared to the strangely innervating ecstasy he felt in letting his eyes dwell fondly on the fairness of her face the whiteness of her half bale bosom the delicate sheenie dazzle ever polished skin the soft and supple curves of her whole exquisite form and spellbound by the witch river loveliness he almost forgot the very presence of her dying victim occasionally indeed he glanced at the agonized creature where he lay huddled on the ground in the convulsive throes of his dreadful death struggle but it was now with precisely the same quiet and disdainful smile as that for which he had momentarily hated saluma there was a sound of singing somewhere singing that had a mirthful under throbbing in it as though a thousand light-footed fairies were dancing to its sweet refrain and their jealous hurt it dying inch by inch as he was he hurt it and with the last superhuman effort forced himself up once more to his feet his arms stiffly outstretched his anguish dies full of a soft and strangely piteous glory to die he whispered in odd accents that penetrated the air with singular clearness to die nay not so there is no death i see it all i know to die is to live to live again and to remember to remember and repent to past and with the last word he fell heavily face forward to corpse at the same moment a terrific roar resounded through the dome and the tigress i zeef sprang stealthily down from the dais and pounced upon the warm lifeless body mounting guard over it in an ominously significant attitude with glistening eyes lashing tail and nervously quivering claws a slight thrill of horror ran through the company but not a man moved i zeef i zeef called i see it imperiously the animal looked round with an angry snarl and seemed for once disposed to disobey the summons of its mistress see therefore rose from her throne and stepping forward with a swift agile grace caught the savage beast by the neck and dragged it from its desired prey then with the point of her little silver sandal foot she turned the fallen face of a dead man slightly round so that she might observe it more attentively and noting its livid disfigurement smiled so much for the beauty and dignity of manhood she said with a contemptuous shrug of her snowy shoulders all perished in the space of a few brief moments look you you fair sirs that take pride in your strength and muscular attainments you shall not find in all alkiers a fairer face or more nobly nipped frame than was possessed by this dead fool nor jealous and yet low how the silver nectar doth make havoc on the sinews of adamant the nerves of steel the stalwart limbs tried by the touchstone of death you are with all your vaunted intelligence your domineering audacity and self-love no better than the slain dogs that serve vultures were carrying moreover you are less than dogs in honesty and vastly ashamed by them infidelity she laughed scornfully as she spoke still grasping the tigress by the neck in one slight hand and her glorious eyes flashed as a mocking defiance on all the men assembled their countenances exhibited various expressions of uneasiness amounting to fear some few smiled forcibly others feigned a careless indifference saluma flushed and angry red and theos though he knew not why felt a sudden pricking sense of shame she marked all these signs of disquietude with apparently increasing amusement for a lovely face grew warm and radiant with suppressed malicious mirth she made a slight imperative gesture of command to gazra who at once approached and bending over the dead nerjanas proceeded to strip off all the gold clasps and valuable jewels that has so lavishly adorned the ill-fated young man's attire then beckoning another slave nearly as tall and muscular as himself they attached to the neck and feet of the corpse round leaden bullet shaped weights fastened by means of heavy iron chains this done they raised the body from the floor and carried it between them to the central and largest casement of all that stood open to the midnight air and without dexterous movement flung it out into the waters of the lake beneath it fell with a sullen splash the pale lilies on the surface rocking stormily to and fro as though blown by a gust of wind while great circling ripples shown softly in the yellow gleam of the moonlight as the dead man sank down down down like a stone into his crystal quiet grave last year returned to her throne with a serene step and unruffled breath followed by the sulky and disappointed izit smiling gently on theos on saluma she receded herself and touched a small bell at her side he gave her sharp cling clang like a suddenly struck symbol and love the marble floor yawned asunder and the banquet table with all its costly fruits and flowers vanished underground with the swiftness of lightning the floor closed again the broad circular center space of the hall was now clear from all obstruction and the company revelers rose themselves a little from their drowsy postures of half inebriated languor the singing voices that had stirred their jealous to sudden animation even in this dying agony sounded nearer and nearer and the globe of fire overhead changed its hue from that of crimson to a delicate pink at the extreme end of the glittering vista of pale green transparent columns a door suddenly opened and a flock of doves came speeding forth their white spread wings colored softly and the clear rose radiance they circled round and round the dome three times then fluttered in a palpitating arch over licea's head and finally sped straight across the hall to the other end where they streamed snowy through another aperture and disappeared still nearer rippled the sound of singing and all at once a troop of girls came dancing noiselessly as fireflies into the full quivering pinkness of the jewel like light that floated about them girls as lovely as delicate as dainty as cyclaments that wave in the woods in the early days of an italian spring their garments were so white so transparent so filmy and clinging that they looked like elves robed in mountain vapor rather than human creatures there were 50 of them in all and as they tripped forward they liked the doves that had heralded their approach surrounded licea flutteringly saluting her with gestures of exquisite grace and about humility while she enthroned in supreme fairness with her tigress crouched beside her looked down on them like a goddess calmly surveying a crowd of vesta worshipers their salutations done they rushed palma like a shower of white rose leaves drifting before a gale into the exact center of the hall and their poising birdlike with their snowy arms upraised as though about to fly they waited their lovely faces radiant with laughter their eyes flashing dangerous allurement their limbs glistening like polished alabaster through the gauzy attire that betrayed rather than concealed their exquisite forms then came the soft bizicato of pulled strings and a tinkling jangle of silver bells beating out a measured languorous rhythm and with one accord they all merged together in the voluptuous grace of a dance more ravishing more wild and wondrous than ever poet pictured in his word fantasies of fairyland Theos drank in the intoxicating delight of the scene with eager dazzled eyes and heavily beating heart the mysterious passion of mingle drug and hatred he felt for licea stole over him more strongly than ever in the sultry air of this strange night this night of sweet delirium in which all that was most dangerous and urring in his nature woke into life and mastered his better will a curious instinctive knowledge swept across his mind namely that saluma's emotions were the faithful reflex of his own but as he had felt no anger against his rival in fame so now he had no jealousy of his possible rival in love their sympathies were too closely united for distrust tomorrow the friendship so ardently begun nevertheless as he fell resistlessly deeper and deeper into the glittering snares there was spread for his destruction he was conscious of evil though he lacked force to overcome it at any rate he would save saluma from harm he resolved if he could not save himself meantime he watched the bewildering evolutions and witching entanglements of the gliding maze of fair faces snowy bosoms and twining limbs the palpitated two and fro under the soft rose light of the dome like white flowers colored by the sunset and glancing ever and again at licea's imperial sorceress beauty he thought dreamily better the love that kills than no love at all and he thereupon gave himself up a voluntary captive to the sway of his own passions determining to enjoy the immediate present no matter what the future might have in store outside the water lilies nodded themselves to sleep in their shrouding dark leaves and the unbroken smoothness of the lake spread itself out on the moon like a sheet of molten gold over the spot where nerjalis had found his jelly rest the curse of the dead nerjalis shall cling yes possibly in the hereafter but now his parting malice sun seemed but a foolish clamor against destiny he was gone none of his late companions missed him none regretted him like all dead men once did he was soon forgotten in dove chapter 18