amusement and expectancy. Absolute quiet reigned within the
magnificent banquet hall, . . the music had ceased,--and not a sound
could be heard, save the delicate murmur of the wind outside
swaying the water-lilies on the moonlit lake. Every one's
attention was centred on the unhappy young man, who with lifted
head and rigidly clasped hands, faced Lysia as a criminal faces a
judge, . . Lysia, whose dazzling smile beamed upon him with the
brightness of summer sunbeams,--Lysia, whose exquisite voice lost
none of its richness as she spoke his doom.

"By the vow which thou hast vowed to me, Nir-jalis--" she said
slowly.. "and by thine oath sworn on the Symbolic Eye of Raphon"..
here she touched the dreadful Jewel on her breast--"which bound
thy life to my keeping, and thy death to my day of choice, I
herewith bestow on thee the Chalice of Oblivion--the Silver Nectar
of Peace! Sleep, and wake no more!--drink and die! The gateways of
the Kingdom of Silence stand open to receive thee! ... thy
service is finished! ... ... fare-thee-well!"

With the utterance of the last word, she gave him the glittering
cup she held. He took it mechanically,--and for one instant glared
about him on all sides, scanning the faces of the attentive guests
as though in the faint hope of some pity, some attempt at rescue.
But not a single look of compassion was bestowed upon him save by
Theos, who, full of struggling amazement and horror, would have
broken out into indignant remonstrance, had not an imperative
glance from Sah-luma warned him that any interference on his part
would only make matters worse. He therefore, sorely against his
will, and only for Sah-luma's sake, kept silence, watching Nir-
jalis meanwhile in a sort of horrible fascination.