Being a woman only two things would have kept her away, one--that she feared and hated him, which she denies, and the other--that she liked him too well, and, being prudent, thought it wisest not to look upon him more." When she heard the first of these words, Merapi glanced up with her lips parted as though to answer.

Instead, she dropped her eyes and suddenly seemed to choke, while even in the moonlight I saw the red blood pour to her brow and along her white arms.
"Sir," she gasped, "why should you affront me?
I swear that never till this moment did I think such a thing.

Surely it would be treason." "Without doubt," interrupted Seti, "yet one of a sort that kings might pardon." "Thirdly," I went on as though I had heard neither of them, "if this girl were what she declares, she would not be wandering alone in the desert at night, seeing that I have heard among the Arabs that Merapi, daughter of Nathan the Levite, is a lady of no mean blood among the Hebrews and that her family has wealth.

Still, however much she lies, we can see for ourselves that she is beautiful." "Yes, Brother, in that we are fortunate, since without doubt she will sell for a high price among the slave traders beyond the desert." "Oh! Sir," cried Merapi seizing the hem of his robe, "surely you who I feel, I know not why, are no evil thief, you who have a mother and, perchance, sisters, would not doom a maiden to such a fate.

Misjudge me not because I am alone.