Mingled joy because after these months of arduous search he found her yet alive, and fear lest she should again be taken from him for ever, deprived him of all appetite.
While we ate, priests to the number of about a dozen, who I suppose had been summoned by Harut, were admitted by the guard and, gathering out of earshot of us between the altar and the sanctuary, entered on an earnest discussion with him.

Watching their faces I could see that there was a strong difference of opinion between them, about half taking one view on the matter of which they disputed, and half another.

At length Harut made some proposition to which they all agreed.

Then the door of the sanctuary was opened with a strange sort of key which one of the priests produced, showing a dark interior in which gleamed a white object, I suppose the statue of the Child.

Harut and two others entered, the door being closed behind them.