I tell you that I prayed for a symbol and a sign, and the prayer was answered.
"Did not the black giant spring upon me to bear me away to be his slave--his, or another's?
And is he not a symbol of the evil and the ignorance which are on the earth and that seek to drag down the beauty and the wisdom of the earth to their own level?
Then the Phoenician ran to rescue me and was defeated, since the spirit of Mammon cannot overcome the black powers of ill.

Next you came and fought hard and long, till in the end you slew the mighty foe, you a Prince born of the royal blood of the world----" and she ceased.
"You have a pretty gift of parable, lady, as it should be with one who interprets the oracles of a goddess.

But you have not told me of what I, your servant, am the symbol." She stopped in her walk and looked him full in the face.
"I never heard," she said, "that either the Jews or the Egyptians, being instructed, were blind to the reading of an allegory.

But, Prince, if you cannot read this one it is not for me, who am but a woman, to set it out to you." Just then their glances met, and in the clear moonlight Aziel saw a wave of doubt sweep over his companion's dark and beautiful eyes, and a faint flush appear upon her brow.

He saw, and something stirred at his heart that till this hour he had never felt, something which even now he knew it would trouble him greatly to escape.
"Tell me, lady," he asked, his voice sinking almost to a whisper, "in this fable of yours am I even for an hour deemed worthy to play the part of that immortal love embodied which you sought so earnestly a while ago ?" "Immortal love, Prince," she answered, in a new voice, a voice low and deep, "is not for one hour, but for all hours that are and are to be.
You, and you alone, can know if you would dare to play such a part as this--even in a fable." "Perchance, lady, there lives a woman for whom it might be dared." "Prince, no such woman lives, since immortal love must deal, not with the flesh, but with the spirit.