And now, though I know you are scarcely fatigued enough to sleep, I will say good-night." I took the second roll of parchment from his hand, and opening it a little way, I saw that it was covered with very fine small writing.
Then I said: "Does Zara know how long I have been absent ?" "Yes," replied Heliobas; "and she, like myself, was surprised and anxious.

I think she went to bed long ago; but you may look into her room and see if she is awake, before you yourself retire to rest." As he spoke of Zara his eyes grew melancholy and his brow clouded.

An instinctive sense of fear came upon me.
"Is she not well ?" I asked.
"She is perfectly well," he answered.

"Why should you imagine her to be otherwise ?" "Pardon me," I said; "I fancied that you looked unhappy when I mentioned her." Heliobas made no answer.

He stepped to the window, and throwing back the curtain, called me to his side.
"Look out yonder." he said in low and earnest tones; "look at the dark blue veil strewn with stars, through which so lately your daring soul pierced its flight! See how the small Moon hangs like a lamp in Heaven, apparently outshining the myriad worlds around her, that are so much vaster and fairer! How deceptive is the human eye!--nearly as deceptive as the human reason.