Now, the plan is to lay hands on me as I go back from the tomb to the palace--but I shall not go back.

Aziel, I shall stay in the tomb--nay, do not fear--not dead.

I have hidden food and water there, enough for many days, and there with the departed I shall live--till I am of their number." "But if so, how can it help you, Elissa, for they will break in the gates of the place, and drag you away ?" "Then, Aziel, they will drag away a corpse, and that they will scarcely care to present to Ithobal.

See, I have hidden poison in my breast, and here at my girdle hangs a dagger; are not the two of them enough to make an end of one frail life?
Should they dare to touch me, I shall tell them through the bars that most certainly I shall drink the bane, or use the knife; and when they know it, they will leave me unharmed, hoping to starve me out, or trusting to chance to snare me living." "You are bold," murmured Aziel in admiration, "but self-murder is a sin." "It is a sin that I will dare, beloved, as in past days I would have dared it for less cause, rather than be given alive into the hands of Ithobal; for to whoever else I may be false, to you through life and death I will be true." Now Aziel groaned in his doubt and bitterness of heart; then turning to Metem, he asked:-- "Have you anything to say, Metem ?" "Yes, Prince, two things," answered the Phoenician.

"First, that the lady Elissa is rash, indeed, to speak so openly before me who might carry her words to the council or the priests." "Nay, Metem, I am not rash, for I know that, although you love money, you will not betray me." "You are right, lady, I shall not, for money would be of little service to me in a city that is about to be taken by storm.