Suddenly a thought came to her.

She arose on her elbow—she called her slaves.

They clothed her in a gaudy gown, dressed her hair, and led her forth.

Salome followed the wild, weird, religious enthusiast.

She pushed through the crowd and placed herself near the man, so the
smell of her body would reach his nostrils.

His eyes ranged the swelling lines of her body.

Their eyes met.

She half-smiled and gave him that look which had snared the soul of
many another.

But he only gazed at her with passionless, judging intensity and
repeated his cry, “Repent ye. Repent ye, for the day is at hand!”

Her reply, uttered soft and low, was this: “I would kiss thy lips!”

He moved away and she reached to seize his garment, repeating, “I
would kiss thy lips—I would kiss thy lips!”

He turned aside, and forgot her, as he continued his warning cry, and
went his way.