yours?"

"Ay, Prince," grumbled Metem, "for so the world goes with the old; you
take the fair lady for company and I a she-ass. Well, of the two give me
the ass which is more safe and does not chatter."

Then they started, Aziel leaving his short sword in the keeping of the
dead man.

"How are you named, lady?" he said presently, adding "or rather I need
not ask; you are Elissa, the daughter of Sakon, Governor of Zimboe, are
you not?"

"I am so called, though how you know it I cannot guess."

"I heard you name yourself, lady, in the prayer you made before the
altar."

"You heard my prayer, Prince?" she said starting. "Do you not know that
it is death to that man who hearkens to the prayer of a priestess
of Baaltis, uttered in her holy grove? Still, none know it save the
goddess, who sees all, therefore I beseech you for your own sake and the
sake of your companion, say nothing of it in the city, lest it should
come to the ears of the priests of El."

"Certainly it would have been death to you had I _not_ chanced to hear
it, having lost my way in the darkness," answered the prince laughing.
"Well, since I did hear it I will add that it was a beautiful prayer,
revealing a heart high and pure, though I grieve that it should have
been offered to one whom I hold to be a demon."