Oh! did you know the terror of this half-savage Ithobal which oppresses me, you would forgive me all--a terror that to-night lies upon me with a tenfold weight." "Why so, lady ?" "Doubtless because it is nearer," Elissa whispered, but her beautiful pleading eyes and quivering lips seemed to belie her words and say, "because _you_ are near, and a change has come upon me." For the second time that day Aziel's glance met hers, and for the second time a strange new pang that was more pain than joy, and yet half-divine, snatched at his heart-strings, for a while numbing his reason and taking from him the power of speech.
"What was it ?" he wondered vaguely.

He had seen many lovely faces, and many noble women had shown him favour, but why had none of them stirred him thus?
Could it be that this stranger Gentile maiden was his soul-mate--she whom he was destined to love above all upon the earth, nay, whom he did already love, and so soon?
"Lady," he said, taking a step towards her, "lady----" and he paused.
Elissa bowed her dark head till her gold-bedecked and scented hair almost fell upon his feet, but she made no answer.
Then another voice broke upon the silence, a clear, strident voice that said:-- "Prince, forgive me, if for the second time to-day I disturb you; but the guests have gone; your chamber is made ready, and, not knowing the customs of the women of this country, I sought you, little guessing that, at such an hour, I should find you alone with one of them." Aziel looked up, although there was no need for him to do so, for he knew that voice well, to see the tall form of the Levite Issachar standing before them, a cold light of anger shining in his eyes.
Elissa saw also, and, with some murmured words of farewell, she turned and went, leaving them together..