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Updated: May 20, 2025
It was a strange effect, and made on the mind of Theos a strange impression, he was about to call Sah-luma's attention to it, when an uncomfortable consciousness that they were no longer alone came over him, instinctively he turned round, uttered a hasty exclamation, and springing erect, found himself face to face with a huge black, a man of some six feet in height and muscular in proportion, who, clad, in a vest and tunic of the most vivid scarlet hue, leered confidentially upon him as their eyes met.
This was Fame indeed, . . Fame at its utmost best, and Theos sighed once or twice restlessly as he inwardly reflected how poor and unsatisfying were his own poetical powers, and how totally unfitted he was to cope with a rival so vastly his superior.
"Nothing!"...he faltered, "Nothing! ... 'tis over, . . the child must die!"...Then all suddenly the hard, drawn lines of his countenance relaxed, great tears gathered in his eyes, and fell slowly one by one, . . and moving aside, he shrank away as far as possible into the shadow cast by a huge column close by.. "O Niphrata! ... Niphrata!".. Theos heard him say in a voice broken by despair.. "Why do I love thee only now, . . NOW, when thou art lost to me forever!"
"Never really suffered!".. Theos dropped the hand he held, and an invisible barrier seemed to rise slowly up between him and his beautiful companion. Never really suffered! ... then he was no true poet after all, if he was ignorant of sorrow!
Then taking Theos by the arm he turned away from the terrace, and re-entered his apartment, where he flung himself full length on his couch, pillowing his handsome head against a fold of glossy leopard skin which formed a most becoming background for the soft, dark oval beauty of his features.
Theos, still holding Sah-luma by the arm, with the protecting fondness of an elder brother guarding a younger, gazed also at the scene with quiet, sorrowfully wondering eyes. For it meant something to him he was sure, because it was so familiar, yet he found it impossible to grasp the comprehension of that meaning!
"Aye, aye!" and Sah-luma's dark brows contracted in a slight frown "Not so many fine words, I pray thee! Thou couldst not well mistake her, there is only one Lysia!" "Lysia!" murmured Theos dreamily, and the musical name slid off his lips with a soft, sibilant sound, "Lysia! And I forgot to kneel to that enchanting, that adorable being! Oh unwise, benighted fool! where were my thoughts?
Another moment, and she advanced leisurely into the pavilion, Aizif slinking stealthily along beside her and seeming to imitate her graceful gliding movements, till she stood within a few paces of Theos and Sah-luma, just near the spot where the lotus-flowers swayed over the grass-green, stagnant pool.
Theos noted his behavior with a vague sense of amusement, the man took such evident delight in his own ill- humor, and seemed to be so thoroughly convinced that his opinion on all affairs was the only one worth having.
Bid my steward prepare the Rose Chamber for my guest, and let Athazel and Zimra attend there to wait upon him." All the maidens saluted, touching their heads with their hands in token of obedience, and Sah-luma leading the way, courteously beckoned Theos to follow.
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