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"Niphrata's hair!".. Theos was too much surprised to do more than repeat the words mechanically, while a strange pang shot through his heart as of inward shame or sorrow.

Just then the Priest Zel lifted the long, jewel- hilted knife from the black cushion where it had lain till now, and, crouching stealthily in the shadow behind Lysia, held it in both bands, pointed straight forward in a level line with Niphrata's breast. Thus armed, he waited, silent and immovable.

Theos clenched his hands together in a sort of physical effort to keep down the storm of emotions working within him, for Niphrata's words burnt into his brain like fire, ..too well, too well he understood their full intensity of meaning!

The maidens of his household waited near him, some of them held flowers, one, kneeling at a small lyre, seemed just about to strike a few chords, when Sah-luma silenced her by a light gesture: "Peace, Zoralin!" he said softly.. "I cannot listen: thou hast not my Niphrata's tenderness!"

Sah-luma! Singing-angel of Niphrata's soul! Forgive me! It is true, ... thou shouldst never hear of strife or contention among the coarser tribe of men, and I, ... I, poor Niphrata, would give my life to shield thee from the faintest shadow of annoy!

All at once a flash of comprehension lightened the Laureate's sternly perplexed face, a bitter laugh broke from his lips. "She has been drugged!" he cried fiercely, pointing to Niphrata's white and rigid form, . . "Poisoned by some deadly potion devised of devils, to twist and torture the quivering centres of the brain! Accursed work!

The figure of Elzear looked scarcely more substantial than the phantom-forms of Sah-luma, Zephoranim, Khosrul, Zuriel, or Zabastes, while Lysia's exquisite face and seductive form, Niphrata's pensive beauty, and all the local characteristics of the place, were stamped on the dreamer's memory as faithfully as scenes flashed by the sun on the plates of photography!

He, meanwhile, gathered a scarcely opened white rosebud and loosening the tress of Niphrata's hair from his fingers, allowed it to hang to its full rippling length, then laying the flower against it, he appeared dreamily to admire the contrast between the snowy blossom and shining curl.

As he looked he uttered a slight exclamation, . . Theos hastened to his side. "What has happened, Sah-luma? ... hast thou ill news?" "Ill news? nay, of a truth I know not".. and the Laureate gazed up blankly into his friend's face.. "But this" ... and he touched the fair silken substance that tied the scroll he held, "this is Niphrata's hair!"

A hot and painful blush crimsoned Niphrata's face, a softness as of suppressed tears glistened in her eyes, she made no answer, but looked beseechingly at the little twig Sah-luma held.