royal blood of the world----" and she ceased.

"You have a pretty gift of parable, lady, as it should be with one who
interprets the oracles of a goddess. But you have not told me of what I,
your servant, am the symbol."

She stopped in her walk and looked him full in the face.

"I never heard," she said, "that either the Jews or the Egyptians, being
instructed, were blind to the reading of an allegory. But, Prince, if
you cannot read this one it is not for me, who am but a woman, to set it
out to you."

Just then their glances met, and in the clear moonlight Aziel saw a wave
of doubt sweep over his companion's dark and beautiful eyes, and a faint
flush appear upon her brow. He saw, and something stirred at his heart
that till this hour he had never felt, something which even now he knew
it would trouble him greatly to escape.

"Tell me, lady," he asked, his voice sinking almost to a whisper, "in
this fable of yours am I even for an hour deemed worthy to play the part
of that immortal love embodied which you sought so earnestly a while
ago?"

"Immortal love, Prince," she answered, in a new voice, a voice low and
deep, "is not for one hour, but for all hours that are and are to be.
You, and you alone, can know if you would dare to play such a part as
this--even in a fable."

"Perchance, lady, there lives a woman for whom it might be dared."