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You saw that she was dressed in a long gown of black, pleated to the knees, having no clasp or girdle, and bare of any ornamentation except a gold star on each breast. Callistion said: "Now, through my son, I reign in Nacumera. There is no person who dares disobey me. Therefore, come close to me that I may see the beauty which besotted this Demetrios, whom, I think now, I must have loved."
I purchased with O rarity of rarities! a little rational advice and much gold as well. Thus in due season I betrayed Callistion. Well, who forbids it?" She said: "God is asleep. Therefore you live, and I alas! must live for a while longer." "Yes, you must live for a while longer oh, and I, too, must live for a while longer!" the Jew returned. His voice had risen in a curious quavering wail.
It seemed unfair Callistion should hate her with such bitterness; yet Melicent remembered certain thoughts concerning Dame Melusine, and did not wonder at Callistion's mania half so much as did Callistion's son. "I must endure discomfort and, it may be, torture for a little longer," said Melicent, and laughed whole-heartedly.
Orestes had strangled Diophantus in order that there might be no rival to Orestes' claims. The lad lay on his back, and his left arm hung elbow-deep in the water, which swayed it gently. Callistion sat beside the corpse and stroked its limp right hand. She had hated the boy throughout his brief and merry life. She thought now of his likeness to Demetrios.
These two were kneeling side by side, and each looked into the water. Callistion said: "I do not wonder that Demetrios loved you. He loved at odd times many women. He loved the mother of this carrion here. But afterward he would come back to me, and lie asprawl at my feet with his big crafty head between my knees; and I would stroke his hair, and we would talk of the old days when we were young.
Upon no less than three occasions did Callistion the first wife of the proconsul and the mother of his elder son attempt the life of Melicent; and thrice Demetrios spared the woman at Melicent's entreaty. Then one day about noon Demetrios came unheralded into Melicent's resplendent prison. Through an aisle of painted pillars he came to her, striding with unwonted quickness, glittering as he moved.
She raised toward Melicent the dilated eyes of one who has just come from a dark place. Callistion said: "And so Demetrios is dead. I thought I would be glad when I said that. Hah, it is strange I am not glad." She rose, as though with hard effort, as a decrepit person might have done.
Callistion managed it. Thus I betrayed Demetrios." Melicent said, "You are too foul for hell to swallow." And Ahasuerus manifested indifference to this imputed fault. "Thus far I had gone hand-in-hand with an insane Callistion. Now our ways parted. She desired only to be avenged on you, and very crudely. That did not accord with my plan. I fell to bargaining.
Callistion has thrice endeavoured to kill Melicent. If any harm befalls me, Callistion to all intent will reign in Nacumera, and she will not be satisfied with mere assassination. I cannot guess what torment Callistion will devise, but it will be no child's play " "Hah, infamy!" cried Perion. He had learned long ago how cunning the heathen were in such cruelties, and so he shuddered.
He never spoke of you. I cannot pardon that." "I know," said Melicent. Their cheeks touched now. "There is only one master who could teach you that drear knowledge " "There is but one, Callistion." "The man would be tall, I think. He would, I know, have thick, brown, curling hair " "He has black hair, Callistion. It glistens like a raven's wing."
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