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Updated: June 5, 2025
Perion's trial, condemnation, and so on, had consumed the better part of an hour, on account of the drunkenness of one of the Inquisitors, who had vexatiously impeded these formalities by singing love-songs; but in the end it had been salutarily arranged that the Comte de la Foret be torn apart by four horses upon the St. Richard's day ensuing.
"The life of Melicent hangs on my safe return to Nacumera.... Ey, what is that to me!" the proconsul cried aloud. "The thought of Melicent is sweeter than the thought of any god. It is not sweet enough to bribe me into living as this Perion's debtor." So when the ship touched at the Needle, a half-hour later, that spur of rock was vacant.
Demetrios and Perion, by the quick turn of fortune previously recorded, were allied against all Christendom. They got arms at the Hotel d'Ebelin, and they rode out of the city of Megaris, where the bonfires lighted over-night in Perion's honour were still smouldering, amid loud execrations. Fra Battista had not delayed to spread the news of King Theodoret's dilemma.
A flood of torchlight surged and swirled about them, and within a stone's cast Perion's men were despatching the wounded. These two stood face to face and did not speak at all. I think that he knew disappointment first. He looked to find the girl whom he had left on Fomor Beach. He found a woman, the possessor still of a compelling beauty.
This episode may reasonably be considered as complete in itself, in spite of its precipitous commencement; we are not told anything very definite concerning Perion's earlier relations with Melusina, it is true, but then they are hardly of any especial importance. One feature, though, of this romance demands particular comment.
Demetrios said, "Ay; and then night passes, and dawn comes to light my face, which is the most hideous to you among all the faces of men and women!" But Melicent said only: "Seignior, although the severing daylight endures for a long while, I must be brave and worthy of Perion's love nay, rather, of the love he gave me once. I may not grieve so long as no one else dares enter into our own woods."
"Thus painfully I have delivered, as my task was, these fine messages concerning Faith and Love and Death and so on. Touching their rationality I may reserve my own opinion. I am merely Perion's echo. Do I echo madness? This madman was my loved and honoured master once, a lord without any peer in the fields where men contend in battle.
She did not speak for a long while, but she lazily considered Perion's honest face in a sort of whimsical regret for the adoration she no longer found there. "Then it was really you," he said, in wonder, "whom I saw talking with Demetrios when I awakened to-day." "You may be sure," she answered, "that my talking was in no way injurious to you.
A month had passed. She woke one night from dreams of Perion what else should women dream of? and found the same Ahasuerus that had brought her news of Perion's captivity, so long ago, attendant at her bedside. He seemed a prey to some half-scornful mirth. In speech, at least, the man was of entire discretion. "The Splendour of the World desires your presence, madame." Thus the Jew blandly spoke.
These hunted men spent the following night upon the Needle, since there it was not possible for an adversary to surprise them. Perion's was the earlier watch, until midnight, and during this time Demetrios slept. Then the proconsul took his equitable turn. When Perion awakened the hour was after dawn.
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