A strong shudder shook his frame.

Very slowly, very reluctantly, he relaxed his position; he rose from his kneeling posture on the Prince's breast--he left him and stood upright.

Ivan at the same moment heaved a deep sigh, and closed his eyes, apparently insensible.
Gradually one by one the hard lines faded out of the face of Heliobas, and his old expression of soft and grave beneficence came back to it as graciously as sunlight after rain.

He turned to me, and bent his head in a sort of reverential salutation.
"I thank and bless you," he said; "you reminded me in time! Another moment and it would have been too late.

You have saved me." "Give him his life," I said, pointing to Ivan.
"He has it," returned Heliobas; "I have not taken it from him, thank God! He provoked me; I regret it.