"
"It is the tomb of the high-priestesses of Baaltis," went on Elissa,
"and this day at sunset I must visit it to lay an offering upon the
shrine of her who was the Baaltis before me, entering alone, and closing
the gate, for it is not lawful that any one should pass in there with
me. Now, the plan is to lay hands on me as I go back from the tomb
to the palace--but I shall not go back. Aziel, I shall stay in the
tomb--nay, do not fear--not dead. I have hidden food and water there,
enough for many days, and there with the departed I shall live--till I
am of their number."
"But if so, how can it help you, Elissa, for they will break in the
gates of the place, and drag you away?"
"Then, Aziel, they will drag away a corpse, and that they will scarcely
care to present to Ithobal. See, I have hidden poison in my breast, and
here at my girdle hangs a dagger; are not the two of them enough to make
an end of one frail life? Should they dare to touch me, I shall tell
them through the bars that most certainly I shall drink the bane, or use
the knife; and when they know it, they will leave me unharmed, hoping to
starve me out, or trusting to chance to snare me living."
"You are bold," murmured Aziel in admiration, "but self-murder is a
sin."
"It is a sin that I will dare, beloved, as in past days I would have
dared it for less cause, rather than be given alive into the hands of
Ithobal; for to whoever else I may be false, to you through life and
death I will be true.
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