She declared before the king that she would wed no man except myself only, whereon my uncle was very angry, and accused me of playing him false, which, indeed, I had not done." "Although the lady was so fair, Aziel?
But what said the great king ?" "He said that never having seen him to whom she was affianced, he would not suffer that she should be forced into marriage with him against her will.

Yet that her will might be uninfluenced, he commanded that I should be sent upon a long journey.

That was his judgment, lady." "Yes, but not all of it; surely he added other words ?" she broke in eagerly.
"He added," continued Aziel, with some reluctance, "that if while I was on this journey the princess changed her mind, and chose to wed my uncle, it would be well.

But, when I returned from it, if she had not changed her mind, and chose--to marry me--then it would be well also, and, though he was little pleased, with this saying my uncle must be satisfied." "It does not satisfy me, prince Aziel," Elissa answered, the tears starting to her dark eyes.

"I know full well that the lady will not change her mind, and take a man who is in years, and whom she hates, in place of one who is young, and whom she loves.