over the spot where Nir-jalis had found his chilly rest. "THE
CURSE OF THE DEAD NIR-JALIS SHALL CLING!" Yes,--possibly!--in the
hereafter! ... but now his parting malison seemed but a foolish
clamor against destiny, ... he was gone! ... none of his late
companions missed him, ... none regretted him--like all dead men,
once dead he was soon forgotten!




CHAPTER XIX.

A STRANGE TEMPTATION.


On went the dance, ... faster, faster, and ever faster! Only the
pen of some mirth-loving, rose-crowned Greek bard could adequately
describe the dazzling, wild beauty and fantastic grace of those
whirling fairy forms, that now inspired to a bacchante-like ardor,
urged one another to fresh speed with brief soft cries of musical
rapture! Now advancing,--now retreating ... now intermingling all
together in an undulating garland of living loveliness, ... now
parting asunder with an air of sweet coquettishness and caprice,
...--anon meeting again, and winding arm within arm,--till
bending forward in attitudes of the tenderest entreaty, they
seemed, with their languid, praying eyes and clasped hands, to be
waiting for Love to soothe the breathless sweetness of their
parted lips with kisses! The light in the dome again changed its
hue,--from pale rose-pink it flickered to delicate amber-green,
flooding the floor with a radiance as of watery moonbeams, and