Without her, she well knew, philosophy must die in Alexandria.

And was it her wisdom--or other and more earthly charms of hers--which enabled her to keep it alive?
Sickening thought! Oh, that she were ugly, only to test the power of her doctrines! Ho! The odds were fearful enough already; she would be glad of any help, however earthly and carnal.

But was not the work hopeless?
What she wanted was men who could act while she thought.

And those were just the men whom she would find nowhere but--she knew it too well--in the hated Christian priesthood.

And then that fearful Iphigenia sacrifice loomed in the distance as inevitable.