[NOTE: There is a short list of bookmarks, or pointers, at the end of thefile for those who may wish to sample the author's ideas before making anentire meal of them. D. W. ]

ARACHNE

By Georg Ebers

Volume 3. 

CHAPTER X. 

"When the moon is over Pelican Island. " How often Ledscha had repeatedthis sentence to herself while Hermon was detained by Daphne and herPelusinian guests!

When she entered the boat after nightfall she exclaimed hopefully, sureof her cause, "When the moon is over Pelican Island he will come. "

Her goal was quickly reached in the skiff; the place selected for thenocturnal meeting was a familiar one to her. 

The pirates had remained absent from it quite two years. Formerly theyhad often visited the spot to conceal their arms and booty on the denselywooded island. The large papyrus thicket on the shore also hid boatsfrom spying eyes, and near the spot where Ledscha landed was a grassyseat which looked like an ordinary resting place, but beneath it thecorsairs had built a long, walled passage, that led to the other side ofthe island, and had enabled many a fugitive to vanish from the sight ofpursuers, as though the earth had swallowed them. 

"When the moon is over the island, " Ledscha repeated after she had waitedmore than an hour. 

The time had not yet come; the expanse of water lay before hermotionless, in hue a dull, leaden gray, and only the dimly illumined airand a glimmering radiance along the edges of the waves that washed theisland showed that the moon was already brightening the night. 

When its full orb floated above the island Hermon, too, would appear, andthe happiness which had been predicted to Ledscha would begin. 

Happiness?

A bitter smile hovered around her delicately cut lips as she repeated theword. 

Hitherto no feeling was more distant from her; for when love and longingbegan to stir in her heart, it seemed as though a hideous spider wasweaving its web about her, and vague fears, painful memories, and intheir train fierce hate would force glad expectation into the shadow. 

Yet she yearned with passionate fervour to see Hermon again, and when hewas once there all must be well between them. The prediction of oldTabus, who ruled as mistress over so many demons, could not deceive. 

After Ledscha had so lately reminded the lover who so vehemently rousedher jealous wrath what this night of the full moon meant to her, shecould rely upon his appearance in spite of everything. 

Various matters undoubtedly held him firmly enough in Tennis--sheadmitted this to herself after she grew calmer--but he had promised tocome; he would surely enter the boat, and she--she would submit to sharethe night with the Hellene. 

Her whole being longed for the bliss awaiting her, and it could come fromno one save the man whose lips would seek hers when the moon rose overthe Pelican Island. 

How tardily and sluggishly the cow-headed goddess who bore the silver orbbetween her horns rose to-night! how slowly the time passed, yet she didnot move forward more certainly that the man whom Ledscha expected mustarrive. 

Of the possibility of his non-appearance she would not think; but whenthe fear that she was perhaps looking for him in vain assailed her, theblood crimsoned her face as if she felt the shame of a humiliatinginsult. Yet why should she make the period of waiting more torturingthan it was already?

Surely he must come!

Sometimes she rested on the grassy seat and gazed across the dull graysurface of the water into the distance; sometimes she walked to and fro, stopping at every turn to look across at Tennis and the bright torchesand lights which surrounded the Alexandrian's tent. 

So one quarter of an hour after another passed away. 

A light breeze rose, and gradually the tops of the rushes began to shine, and the leafage before, beside, and above her to glitter in the silverylight. 

The water was no longer calm, but furrowed by countless little ripples, on whose crests the rays from above played, sparkling and flashingrestlessly. A web of shimmering silvery radiance covered the edges ofevery island, and suddenly the brilliant full moon was reflected inargent lustre like a magnificent quivering column upon the surface of thewater, now rippled by the evening breeze. 

The time during which Ledscha could repeat "When the moon is over PelicanIsland" was past; already its course had led it beyond. 

The island lay behind it, and it continued its pilgrimage before theyoung girl's eyes. 

The glittering column of light upon the water proved that she was notmistaken; the time which she had appointed for Hermon had alreadyexpired. 

The moon in calm majesty sailed farther and farther onward in its course, and with it minute after minute elapsed, until they became a half hour, then a whole one. 

"How long is it since the moon was over Pelican Island?" was the questionwhich now pressed itself upon her again and again, and to which she foundan answer at every glance upward, for she had learned to estimate time bythe position of the stars. 

Rarely was the silence of the night interrupted by the call of a humanbeing or the barking of a dog from the city, or even the hooting of anowl at a still greater distance; but the farther the moon moved on aboveher the fiercer grew the uproar in Ledscha's proud, cruelly wronged soul. She felt offended, scorned, insulted, and at the same time defrauded ofthe happiness which this night of the full moon contained for her. Orhad the demons who promised happiness meant something else in theirprediction than Hermon's love? Was she to owe the bliss they hadforetold to hate and pitiless retribution?

When the midnight hour had nearly arrived she prepared to depart, butafter she had already set her foot on the edge of the boat she returnedto the grassy seat. She would wait a little longer yet. Then therewould be nothing which could give Hermon a right to consideration; thenshe might let loose upon him the avenging powers at her command. 

Ledscha again gazed over the calm landscape, but in the wild tumult ofher heart she no longer distinguished the details upon which her eyesrested. Doubtless she saw the light mists hovering like ghosts, or therestless shades of the unburied dead, over the shining expanse beforeher, and the filmy vapours that veiled the brightness of the stars, butshe had ceased to question the heavenly bodies about the time. 

What did she care for the progress of the hours, since the constellationof Charles's Wain showed her that it was past midnight?

The moon no longer stood forth in sharp outlines against the deep azureof the vaulted sky, but, robbed of its radiance, floated in a circle ofdimly illumined mists. 

Not only the feelings which stirred Ledscha's soul, but the scene aroundher, had gained a totally different aspect. 

Since every hope of the happiness awaiting her was destroyed, she nolonger sought to palliate the wrongs Hermon had inflicted upon her. While dwelling on them, she by no means forgot the trivial purpose forwhich the artist intended to use her charms; and when she again gazed upat the slightly-clouded sky, the shrouded moon no longer reminded her ofthe silver orb between the horns of Astarte. 

She did not ask herself how the transformation had occurred, but in itsplace, high above her head, hung a huge gray spider. Its gigantic limbsextended over the whole firmament, and seemed striving to clutch andstifle the world beneath. The enormous monster was weaving its gray netover Tennis, and all the islands in the water, the Pelican Island, andshe herself upon the seat of turf, and held them all prisoned in it. 

It was a horrible vision, fraught with terrors which, even when she shuther eyes in order to escape it, showed very little change. 

Assailed by anxious fears, Ledscha started up, and a few seconds laterwas urging her boat with steady strokes toward the Owl's Nest. 

Even now lights were still shining from the Alexandrian's tent throughthe sultry, veiled night. 

There seemed to be no waking life on the pirates' island. Even old Tabushad probably put out the fire and gone to sleep, for deathlike silenceand deep darkness surrounded it. 

Had Hanno, who agreed to meet her here after midnight, also failed tocome? Had the pirate learned, like the Greek, to break his promise?

Only half conscious what she was doing, she left the boat; but herslender foot had scarcely touched the land when a tall figure emergedfrom the thicket near the shore and approached her through the darkness. 

"Hanno!" she exclaimed, as if relieved from a burden, and the youngpirate repeated "Hanno" as if the name was the watchword of the night. 

Her own name, uttered in a tone of intense yearning, followed. Notanother syllable accompanied it, but the expression with which it fellupon her ear revealed so plainly what the young pirate felt for andexpected from her that, in spite of the darkness which concealed her, she felt her face flush. 

Then he tried to clasp her hand, and she dared not withdraw it from theman whom she had chosen for her tool. So she unresistingly permitted himto hold her right hand while he whispered his desire to take the place ofthe fallen Abus and make her his wife. 

Ledscha, in hurried, embarrassed tones, answered that she appreciated thehonour of his suit, but before she gave full consent she must discuss animportant matter with him. 

Then Hanno begged her to go out on the water. 

His father and his brother Labaja were sitting in the house by the firewith his grandmother. They had learned, in following the trade ofpiracy, to hide the glimmer of lights. The old people had approved hischoice, but the conversation in the dwelling would soon be over, and thenthe opportunity of seeing each other alone would be at an end. 

Without uttering a word in reply, Ledscha stepped back into the boat, butHanno plied the oars with the utmost caution and guided the skiff withoutthe slightest sound away from the island to an open part of the water fardistant from any shore. 

Here he took in the oars and asked her to speak. They had no cause tofear being overheard, for the surrounding mists merely subdued the lightof the full moon, and no other boat could have approached themunobserved. 

The few night birds, sweeping swiftly on their strong pinions from oneisland to another, flew past them like flitting shadows. One hawk only, in search of nocturnal booty, circled around the motionless skiff, andsometimes, with expanded wings, swooped down close to the couple who weretalking together so eagerly; but both spoke so low that it would havebeen impossible, even for the bird's keen hearing, to follow the courseof their consultation. Merely a few louder words and exclamationsreached the height where it hovered. 

The young pirate himself was obliged to listen with the most strainedattention while Ledscha, in low whispers, accused the Greek sculptor ofhaving basely wronged and deceived her; but the curse with which Hannoreceived this acknowledgment reached even the bird circling around theboat, and it seemed as if it wished to express its approval to thecorsair, for this time its fierce croak, as it suddenly swooped down tothe surface of the water behind the boat, sounded shrilly through thesilent night. But it soon soared again, and now Ledscha's declarationthat she would become Hanno's bride only on condition that he would aidher to punish the Hellenic traitor also reached him. 

Then came the words "valuable booty, " "slight risk, " "thanks and reward. "

The girl's whispered allusion to two colossal statues made of pure goldand genuine ivory was followed by a laugh of disagreeable meaning fromthe pirate. 

At last he raised his deep voice to ask whether Ledscha, if the venturein which he would willingly risk his life were successful, wouldaccompany him on board the Hydra, the good ship whose command his fatherintrusted to him. The firm "Yes" with which she answered, and herindignant exclamation as she repulsed Hanno's premature attempt attenderness, might have been heard by the hawk even at a greater distance. 

Then the pirate's promised bride lowered her voice again, and did notraise her tones until she saw in imagination the fulfilment of thejudgment which she was calling down upon the man who had torn her heartwith such pitiless cruelty. 

Was this the happiness predicted for her on the night of the full moon?It might be, and, radiant with secret joy, her eyes sparkling and herbosom heaving as if her foot was already on the breast of the fallen foe, she assured Hanno that the gold and the ivory should belong to him, andto him alone; but not until he had delivered the base traitor to heralive, and left his punishment in her hands, would she be ready to gowith him wherever he wished--not until then, and not one moment earlier. 

The pirate, with a proud "I'll capture him!" consented to this condition;but Ledscha, in hurried words, now described how she had planned theattack, while the corsair, at her bidding, plied the oars so as to bringthe boat nearer to the scene of the assault. 

The vulture followed the skiff; but when it stopped opposite to the largewhite building, one side of which was washed by the waves, Ledschapointed to the windows of Hermon's studio, exclaiming hoarsely to theyoung pirate: "You will seize him there--the Greek with the long, softblack beard, and the slender figure, I mean. Then you will bind and gaghim, but, you hear, without killing him, for I can only inflict what hedeserves upon the living man. I am not bargaining for a dead one. "

Just at that instant the bird of prey, with a shrill, greedy cry, as ifit were invited to a delicious banquet, flew far away into the distanceand did not return. It flew toward the left; the girl noticed it, andher heavy black eyebrows, which already met, contracted still more. Thedirection taken by the bird, which soon vanished in the darkness of thenight, indicated approaching misfortune; but she was here only to sowdestruction, and the more terrible growth it attained the better!

With an acuteness which aroused the admiration of the young corsair, whowas trained to similar plots, she explained hers. 

That they must wait until after the departure of the Alexandrian with hernumerous train, and for the first dark night, was a matter of course. 

One signal was to notify Hanno to hold himself in readiness, another toinform him that every one in the white house had gone to rest, and thatHermon was there too. The pirates were to enter the black-beardedGreek's studio. While some were shattering his statues to carry away insacks the gold and ivory which they contained, others were to force theirway into Myrtilus's workroom, which was on the opposite side of thehouse. There they would find the second statue; but this they mustspare, because, on account of the great fame of its creator, it was morevaluable than the other. The fair-haired artist was ill, and it would beno difficult matter to take him alive, even if he should put himself onthe defensive. Hermon, on the contrary, was a strong fellow, and to bindhim without injuring him severely would require both strength and skill. Yet it must be done, for only in case Hanno succeeded in delivering bothsculptors to her alive would she consider herself--she could not repeatit often enough--bound to fulfil what she had promised him. 

With the exception of the two artists, only Myrtilus's servant, the olddoorkeeper, and Bias, Hermon's slave, remained during the night in thehouse which was to be attacked, and Hanno would undertake the assaultwith twenty-five sturdy fellows whom he commanded on the Hydra if hisbrother Labaja consented to share in the assault, this force could beconsiderably increased. 

To take the old corsair into their confidence now would not be advisable, for, on account of his mother's near presence, he would scarcely consentto enter into the peril. Should the venture fail, everything would beover; but if it succeeded, the old man could only praise the courage andskill with which it had been executed. 

Nothing was to be feared from the coast guard, for since Abus's death theauthorities believed that piracy had vanished from these waters, and theships commanded by Satabus and his sons had been admitted from Pontusinto the Tanite arm of the Nile as trading vessels. 

CHAPTER XI. 

While Hanno was discussing these considerations, he rowed the boat pastthe landing place from which the "garden" with the Alexandrian's tentcould be seen. 

The third hour after midnight had begun. Smoking flames were stillrising from the pitch pans and blazing torches, and long rows of lanternsalso illumined the broad space. 

It was as light as day in the vicinity of the tent, and Biamite huntsmenand traders were moving to and fro among the slaves and attendants asthough it was market time. 

"Your father, too, " Hanno remarked in his awkward fashion, "will scarcelymake life hard for us. We shall probably find him in Pontus. He isgetting a cargo of wood for Egypt there. We have had dealings with hima long time. He thought highly of Abus, and I, too, have already beenuseful to him. There were handsome young fellows on the Pontine coast, and we captured them. At the peril of our lives we took them to themart. He may even risk it in Alexandria. So the old man makes over tohim a large number of these youths, and often a girl into the bargain, and he does it far too cheaply. One might envy him the profit--if itwere not your father! When you are once my wife, I'll make a specialcontract with him about the slaves. And, besides, since the last greatcapture, in which the old man allowed me a share of my own, I, too, neednot complain of poverty. I shall be ready for the dowry. Do you want toknow what you are worth to me?"

But Ledscha's attention was attracted by other things, and even afterHanno, with proud conceit, repeated his momentous question, he waited invain for a reply. 

Then he perceived that the girl was gazing at the brilliantly lightedsquare as if spellbound, and now he himself saw before the tent a shedwith a canopied roof, and beneath it cushioned couches, on which severalGreeks--men and women--were half sitting, half lying, watching with eagerattention the spectacle which a slender young Hellenic woman waspresenting to them. 

The tall man with the magnificent black beard, who seemed fairlydevouring her with his eyes, must be the sculptor whom Ledscha commandedhim to capture. 

To the rude pirate the Greek girl, who in a light, half-transparentbombyx robe, was exhibiting herself to the eyes of the men upon apedestal draped with cloths, seemed bold and shameless. 

Behind her stood two female attendants, holding soft white garmentsready, and a handsome Pontine boy with black, waving locks, who gazed upat her waiting for her signs. 

"Nearer, " Ledscha ordered the pirate in a stifled voice, and he rowed theboat noiselessly under the shadow of a willow on the bank. But the skiffhad scarcely been brought to a stop there when an elderly matron, whoshared the couch of an old Macedonian man of a distinguished, soldierlyappearance, called the name "Niobe. "

The Hellene on the pedestal took a cloth from the hand of one of thefemale attendants, and beckoned to the boy, who obediently drew throughhis girdle the short blue chiton which hung only to his knees, and sprangupon the platform. 

There the Greek girl manipulated in some way the red tresses piled highupon her head, and confined above the brow by a costly gold diadem, flungthe white linen fabric which the young slave handed to her over her head, wound her arm around the shoulders of the ravenlocked boy, and drew himtoward her with passionate tenderness. At the same time she raised theend of the linen drapery with her left hand, spreading it over him like aprotecting canopy. 

The mobile features which had just smiled so radiantly expressed mortalterror, and the pirate, to whom even the name "Niobe" was unfamiliar, looked around him for the terrible danger threatening the innocent child, from which the woman on the pedestal was protecting it with lovingdevotion. 

The mortal terror of a mother robbed by a higher power of her child couldscarcely be more vividly depicted, and yet haughty defiance hoveredaround her slightly pouting lips; the uplifted hands seemed not onlyanxiously to defend, but also to defy an invisible foe with powerlessanger. 

The pirate's eyes rested on this spectacle as if spellbound, and the manwho in Pontus had dragged hundreds of young creatures--boys and girls--on his ship to sell them into slavery, never thinking of the tears whichhe thereby caused in huts and mansions, clinched his rough hand to attackthe base wretch who was robbing the poor mother of her lovely darling. 

But just as Hanno was rising to look around him for the invisibleevildoer, the loud shouts of many voices startled him. He glanced towardthe pedestal; but now, instead of the hapless mother, he found there thebold woman whom he had previously seen, as radiant as if some great pieceof good fortune had befallen her, bowing and waving her hand to the otherGreeks, who were thanking her with loud applause. 

The sorely threatened boy, bowing merrily, sprang to the ground; butHanno put his hand on Ledscha's arm, and in great perplexity whispered, "What did that mean?"

"Hush!" said the girl softly, stretching her slender neck toward theilluminated square, for the performer had remained standing upon thepedestal, and Chrysilla, Daphne's companion, sat erect on her couch, exclaiming, "If it is agreeable to you, beautiful Althea, show us Nikecrowning the victor. "

Even the Biamite's keen ear could not catch the reply and the purport ofthe rapid conversation which followed; but she guessed the point inquestion when the young men who were present rose hastily, rushed towardthe pedestal, loosed the wreaths from their heads, and offered them tothe Greek girl whom Chrysilla had just called "beautiful Althea. "

Four Hellenic officers in the strong military force under Philippus, thecommandant of the "Key of Egypt, " as Pelusium was justly called, hadaccompanied the old Macedonian general to visit his friend Archias'sdaughter at Tennis; but Althea rejected their garlands with anexplanation which seemed to satisfy them. 

Ledscha could not hear what she said, but when only Hermon and Myrtilusstill stood with their wreaths of flowers opposite the "beautifulAlthea, " and she glanced hesitatingly from one to the other, as if shefound the choice difficult, and then drew from her finger a sparklingring, the Biamite detected the swift look of understanding which Hermonexchanged with her. 

The girl's heart began to throb faster, and, with the keen premonition ofa jealous soul, she recognised in Althea her rival and foe. 

Now there was no doubt of it; now, as the actress, skilled in every wile, hid the hand holding the ring, as well as the other empty one, behind herback, she would know how to manage so that she could use the garlandwhich Hermon handed her. 

Ledscha's foreboding was instantly fulfilled, for when Althea held outher little tightly clinched fist to the artists and asked Myrtilus tochoose, the hand to which he pointed and she then opened was empty, andshe took from the other the ring, which she displayed with well-feignedregret to the spectators. 

Then Hermon knelt before her, and, as he offered Althea his wreath, hisdark eyes gazed so ardently into the blue ones of the red-haired Greek-like Queen Arsinoe, she was of Thracian descent--that Ledscha was nowpositively certain she knew for whose sake her lover had so baselybetrayed her. 

How she hated this bold woman!

Yet she was forced to keep quiet, and pressed her lips tightly togetheras Althea seized the white sheet and with marvellous celerity wound itabout her until it fell in exquisite folds like a long robe. 

Surprise, curiosity, and a pleasant sense of satisfaction in seeing whatseemed to her a shameless display withdrawn from her lover's eyes, rendered it easier for Ledscha to maintain her composure; yet she feltthe blood throbbing in her temples as Hermon remained kneeling before theHellene, gazing intently into her expressive face. 

Was it not too narrow wholly to please the man who had known how topraise her own beauty so passionately? Did not the outlines of Althea'sfigure, which the bombyx robe only partially concealed, lack roundnesseven more than her own?

And yet! As soon as Althea had transformed the sheet into a robe, andheld the wreath above him, Hermon's gaze rested on hers as thoughenraptured, while from her bright blue eyes a flood of ardent admirationpoured upon the man for whom she held the victor's wreath. 

This was done with the upper portion of her body bending very farforward. The slender figure was poised on one foot; the other, coveredto the ankle with the long robe, hovered in the air. Had not the wingswhich, as Nike, belonged to her been lacking, every one would have beenconvinced that she was flying--that she had just descended from theheights of Olympus to crown the kneeling victor. Not only her hand, hergaze and her every feature awarded the prize to the man at her feet. 

There was no doubt that, if Nike herself came to the earth to make thebest man happy with the noblest of crowns, the spectacle would be asimilar one. 

And Hermon! No garlanded victor could look up to the gracious divinitymore joyously, more completely enthralled by grateful rapture. 

The applause which now rang out more and more loudly was certainly notundeserved, but it pierced Ledscha's soul like a mockery, like thebitterest scorn. 

Hanno, on the contrary, seemed to consider the scene scarcely worthlooking at. Something more powerful was required to stir him. He wasparticularly averse to all exhibitions. The utmost which his relativescould induce the quiet, reserved man to do when they ventured into thegreat seaports was to attend the animal fights and the games of theathletes. He felt thoroughly happy only when at sea, on board of hisgood ship. His best pleasure was to gaze up at the stars on calm nights, guide the helm, and meanwhile dream--of late most gladly of making thebeautiful girl who had seemed to him worthy of his brave brother Abus, his own wife. 

In the secluded monotony of his life as a scar over memory had exaltedLedscha into the most desirable of all women, and the slaughtered Abusinto the greatest of heroes. 

To win the love of this much-praised maiden seemed to Hanno peerlesshappiness, and the young corsair felt that he was worthy of it; foron the high seas, when a superior foe was to be opposed by force andstratagem, when a ship was to be boarded and death spread over her deck, he had proved himself a man of unflinching courage. 

His suit had progressed more easily than he expected. His father wouldrejoice, and his heart exulted at the thought of encountering a seriousperil for the girl he loved. His whole existence was a venture of life, and, had he had ten to lose, they would not have been too dear a price tohim to win Ledscha. 

While Althea, as the goddess of Victory, held the wreath aloft, and loudapplause hailed her, Hanno was thinking of the treasures which he hadgarnered since his father had allowed him a share of the booty, and ofthe future. 

When he had accumulated ten talents of gold he would give up piracy, likeAbus, and carry on his own ships wood and slaves from Pontus to Egypt, and textiles from Tennis, arms and other manufactured articles fromAlexandria to the Pontine cities. In this way Ledscha's father hadbecome a rich man, and he would also, not for his own sake--he neededlittle--but to make life sweet for his wife, surround her with splendourand luxury, and adorn her beautiful person with costly jewels. Many astolen ornament was already lying in the safe hiding place that even hisbrother Labaja did not know. 

At last the shouts died away, and as the stopping of the clattering wheelwakes the miller, so the stillness on the shore roused Hanno from hisdream. 

What was it that Ledscha saw there so fascinating that she did not evenhear his low call? His father and Labaja had undoubtedly left hisgrandmother's house long ago, and were looking for him in vain. 

Yes, he was right; the old pirate's shrill whistle reached his ear fromthe Owl's Nest, and he was accustomed to obedience. 

So, lightly touching Ledscha on the shoulder, he whispered that he mustreturn to the island at once. His father would be rejoiced if she wentwith him. 

"To-morrow, " she answered in a tone of resolute denial. Then, remindinghim once more of the meaning of the signals she had promised to give, shewaved her hand to him, sprang swiftly past him to the prow of the boat, caught an overhanging bough of the willow on the shore, and, as she hadlearned during the games of her childhood, swung herself as lightly as abird into the thicket at the water's edge, which concealed her from everyeye. 

CHAPTER XII. 

Without even vouchsafing Hanno another glance, Ledscha glided forward inthe shadow of the bushes to the great sycamore, whose thick, broad top onthe side toward the tents was striped with light from the flood ofradiance streaming from them. On the opposite side the leafage vanishedin the darkness of the night, but Myrtilus had had a bench placed there, that he might rest in the shade, and from this spot the girl could obtainthe best view of what she desired to see. 

How gay and animated it was under the awning!

A throng of companions had arrived with the Pelusinians, and some alsohad probably been on the ship which--she knew it from Bias--had come toTennis directly from Alexandria that afternoon. The galley was said tobelong to Philotas, an aristocratic relative of King Ptolemy. If she wasnot mistaken, he was the stately young Greek who was just picking up theostrich-feather fan that had slipped from Daphne's lap. 

The performance was over. 

Young slaves in gay garments, and nimble female servants with glitteringgold circlets round their upper arms and on their ankles, were passingfrom couch to couch, and from one guest to another, offeringrefreshments. Hermon had risen from his knees, and the wreath of brightflowers again adorned his black curls. He held himself as proudly erectas if the goddess of Victory herself had crowned him, while Althea wasreaping applause and thanks. Ledscha gazed past her and the others towatch every movement of the sculptor. 

It was scarcely the daughter of Archias who had detained Hermon, for hemade only a brief answer--Ledscha could not hear what it was--when sheaccosted him pleasantly, to devote himself to Althea, and--this couldbe perceived even at a distance--thank her with ardent devotion. 

And now--now he even raised the hem of her peplos to his lips. 

A scornful smile hovered around Ledscha's mouth; but Daphne's guests alsonoticed this mark of homage--an unusual one in their circle--and youngPhilotas, who had followed Daphne from Alexandria, cast a significantglance at a man with a smooth, thin, birdlike face, whose hair wasalready turning gray. His name was Proclus, and, as grammateus of theDionysian games and high priest of Apollo, he was one of the mostinfluential men in Alexandria, especially as he was one of the favouredcourtiers of Queen Arsinoe. 

He had gone by her command to the Syrian court, had enjoyed on hisreturn, at Pelusium, with his travelling companion Althea, thehospitality of Philippus, and accompanied the venerable officer to Tennisin order to win him over to certain plans. In spite of his advanced age, he still strove to gain the favour of fair women, and the sculptor'sexcessive ardour had displeased him. 

So he let his somewhat mocking glance wander from Althea to Hermon, andcalled to the latter: "My congratulations, young master; but I needscarcely remind you that Nike suffers no one--not even goodness and gracepersonified--to take from her hand what it is her sole duty to bestow. "

While speaking he adjusted the laurel on his own thin hair; but Thyone, the wife of Philippus, answered eagerly: "If I were a young man likeHermon, instead of an old woman, noble Proclus, I think the wreath whichBeauty bestows would render me scarcely less happy than stern Nike'scrown of victory. "

While making this pleasant reply the matron's wrinkled face wore anexpression of such cordial kindness, and her deep voice was so winning inits melody, that Hermon forced himself to heed the glance of urgentwarning Daphne cast at him, and leave the sharp retort that hovered onhis lips unuttered. Turning half to the grammateus, half to the matron, he merely said, in a cold, self-conscious tone, that Thyone was right. In this gay circle, the wreath of bright flowers proffered by the handsof a beautiful woman was the dearest of all gifts, and he would know howto value it. 

"Until other more precious ones cast it into oblivion, " observed Althea. "Let me see, Hermon: ivy and roses. The former is lasting, but theroses--" She shook her finger in roguish menace at the sculptor as shespoke. 

"The roses, " Proclus broke in again, "are of course the most welcome toour young friend from such a hand; yet these flowers of the goddess ofBeauty have little in common with his art, which is hostile to beauty. Still, I do not know what wreath will be offered to the new tendency withwhich he surprised us. "

At this Hermon raised his head higher, and answered sharply: "Doubtlessthere must have been few of them, since you, who are so often among thejudges, do not know them. At any rate, those which justice bestows havehitherto been lacking. "

"I should deplore that, " replied Proclus, stroking his sharp chin withhis thumb and forefinger; "but I fear that our beautiful Nike also caredlittle for this lofty virtue of the judge in the last coronation. However, her immortal model lacks it often enough. "

"Because she is a woman, " said one of the young officers, laughing; andanother added gaily: "That very thing may be acceptable to us soldiers. For my part, I think everything about the goddess of Victory is beautifuland just, that she may remain graciously disposed toward us. Nay, Iaccuse the noble Althea of withholding from Nike, in her personation, herspecial ornament--her swift, powerful wings. "

"She gave those to Eros, to speed his flight, " laughed Proclus, casting a meaning look at Althea and Hermon. 

No one failed to notice that this jest alluded to the love which seemedto have been awakened in the sculptor as quickly as in the personator ofthe goddess of Victory, and, while it excited the merriment of theothers, the blood mounted into Hermon's cheeks; but Myrtilus perceivedwhat was passing in the mind of his irritable friend, and, as thegrammateus praised Nike because in this coronation she had omitted thelaurel, the fair-haired Greek interrupted him with the exclamation:

"Quite right, noble Proclus, the grave laurel does not suit our gaypastime; but roses belong to the artist everywhere, and are alwayswelcome to him. The more, the better!"

"Then we will wait till the laurel is distributed in some other place, "replied the grammateus; and Myrtilus quickly added, "I will answer for itthat Hermon does not leave it empty-handed. "

"No one will greet the work which brings your friend the wreath ofvictory with warmer joy, " Proclus protested. "But, if I am correctlyinformed, yonder house hides completed treasures whose inspection wouldgive the fitting consecration to this happy meeting. Do you know whatan exquisite effect gold and ivory statues produce in a full glow oflamplight? I first learned it a short time ago at the court of KingAntiochus. There is no lack of lights here. What do you say, gentlemen?Will you not have the studios lighted till the rooms are as bright asday, and add a noble enjoyment of art to the pleasures of this wonderfulnight?"

But Hermon and Myrtilus opposed this proposal with equal decision. 

Their refusal awakened keen regret, and the old commandant of Pelusiumwould not willingly yield to it. 

Angrily shaking his large head, around which, in spite of his advancedage, thick snowwhite locks floated like a lion's mane, he exclaimed, "Must we then really return to our Pelusium, where Ares restricts thenative rights of the Muses, without having admired the noble works whicharose in such mysterious secrecy here, where Arachne rules and swings theweaver's shuttle?"

"But my two cruel cousins have closed their doors even upon me, who camehere for the sake of their works, " Daphne interrupted, "and, as ratherZeus is threatening a storm--just see what black clouds are rising!--weought not to urge our artists further; a solemn oath forbids them to showtheir creations now to any one. "

This earnest assurance silenced the curious, and, while the conversationtook another turn, the gray-haired general's wife drew Myrtilus aside. 

Hermon's parents had been intimate friends of her own, as well as of herhusband's, and with the interest of sincere affection she desired to knowwhether the young sculptor could really hope for the success of whichMyrtilus had just spoken. 

It was years since she had visited Alexandria, but what she heard ofHermon's artistic work from many guests, and now again through Proclus, filled her with anxiety. 

He had succeeded, it was said, in attracting attention, and his greattalent was beyond question; but in this age, to which beauty was as muchone of the necessities of life as bread and wine, and which could notseparate it from art, he ventured to deny it recognition. He headed acurrent in art which was striving to destroy what had been proved andacknowledged, yet, though his creations were undeniably powerful, andeven showed many other admirable qualities, instead of pleasing, satisfying, and ennobling, they repelled. 

These opinions had troubled the matron, who understood men, and was themore disposed to credit them the more distinctly she perceived traces ofdiscontent and instability in Hermon's manner during the present meeting. 

So it afforded her special pleasure to learn from Myrtilus his firmconviction that, in Arachne, Hermon would produce a masterpiece whichcould scarcely be excelled. 

During this conversation Althea had come to Thyone's side, and, as Hermonhad already spoken to her of the Arachne, she eagerly expressed herbelief that this work seemed as if it were specially created for him. 

The Greek matron leaned back comfortably upon her cushions, her wrinkled, owl-like face assumed a cheerful expression, and, with the easyconfidence conferred by aristocratic birth, a distinguished socialposition, and a light heart, she exclaimed: "Lucifer is probably alreadybehind yonder clouds, preparing to announce day, and this exquisitebanquet ought to have a close worthy of it. What do you say, you wonder-working darling of the Muses"--she held out her hand to Althea as shespoke--" to showing us and the two competing artists yonder the model ofthe Arachne they are to represent in gold and ivory?"

Althea fixed her eyes upon the ground, and, after a short period ofreflection, answered hesitatingly: "The task which you set before me iscertainly no easy one, but I shall rely upon your indulgence. "

"She will!" cried the matron to the others. 

Then, clapping her hands, she continued gaily, in the tone of thedirector of an entertainment issuing invitations to a performance: "Yourattention is requested! In this city of weavers the noble Thracian, Althea, will depict before you all the weaver of weavers, Arachne, inperson. "

"Take heed and follow my advice to sharpen your eyes, " added Philotas, who, conscious of his inferiority in intellect and talents to the men andwomen assembled here, took advantage of this opportunity to asserthimself in a manner suited to his aristocratic birth. "This artistic yethapless Arachne, if any one, teaches the lesson how the lofty Olympianspunish those who venture to place themselves on the same level; so letartists beware. We stepchildren of the Muse can lull ourselvescomfortably in the assurance of not giving the jealous gods the slightestcause for the doom which overtook the pitiable weaver. "

Not a word of this declaration of the Macedonian aristocrat escaped thelistening Ledscha. Scales seemed to fall from her eves. Hermon had wonher love in order to use her for the model of his statue of Arachne, and, now that he had met Althea, who perhaps suited his purpose even better, he no longer needed the barbarian. He had cast her aside like a tightshoe as soon as he found a more acceptable one in this female juggler. 

The girl had already asked herself, with a slight thrill of horror, whether she had not prematurely called down so terrible a punishmentupon her lover; now she rejoiced in her swift action. If anything elseremained for her to do, it was to make the vengeance with which sheintended to requite him still more severe. 

There he stood beside the woman she hated. Could he bestow even one poorthought upon the Biamite girl and the wrong he had inflicted?

Oh, no! His heart was filled to overflowing by the Greek--every lookrevealed it. 

What was the shameless creature probably whispering to him now?

Perhaps a meeting was just being granted. The rapture which had beenpredicted to her for this moonlight night, and of which Hermon had robbedher, was mirrored in his features. He could think of everything excepther and her poor, crushed heart. 

But Ledscha was mistaken. Althea had asked the sculptor whether he stillregretted having been detained by her before midnight, and he hadconfessed that his remaining at the banquet had been connected with agreat sacrifice--nay, with an offence which weighed heavily on his mind. Yet he was grateful to the favour of the gods that had guided hisdecision, for Althea had it in her power to compensate him richly forwhat he had lost. 

A glance full of promise flashed upon him from her eloquent eyes, and, turning toward the pedestal at the same instant, she asked softly, "Isthe compensation I must and will bestow connected with the Arachne?"

An eager "Yes" confirmed this question, and a swift movement of herexpressive lips showed him that his boldest anticipations were to besurpassed. 

How gladly he would have detained her longer!--but she was already theobject of all eyes, and his, too, followed her in expectant suspense asshe gave an order to the female attendant and then stood thoughtfully forsome time before the platform. 

When she at last ascended it, the spectators supposed that she wouldagain use a cloth; but, instead of asking anything more from theassistants, she cast aside even the peplos that covered her shoulders. 

Now, almost lean in her slenderness, she stood with downcast eyes; butsuddenly she loosed the double chain, adorned with flashing gems, fromher neck, the circlets from her upper arms and wrists, and, lastly, eventhe diadem, a gift bestowed by her relative, Queen Arsinoe, from hernarrow brow. 

The female slaves received them, and then with swift movements Altheadivided her thick long tresses of red hair into narrower strands, whichshe flung over her back, bosom, and shoulders. 

Next, as if delirious, she threw her head so far on one side that italmost touched her left shoulder, and stared wildly upward toward theright, at the same time raising her bare arms so high that they extendedfar above her head. 

It was again her purpose to present the appearance of defending herselfagainst a viewless power, yet she was wholly unlike the Niobe whom shehad formerly personated, for not only anguish, horror, and defiance, butdeep despair and inexpressible astonishment were portrayed by herfeatures, which obediently expressed the slightest emotion. 

Something unprecedented, incomprehensible even to herself, was occurring, and to Ledscha, who watched her with an expectation as passionate as ifher own weal and woe depended upon Althea's every movement, it seemed asif an unintelligible marvel was happening before her eyes, and a stillgreater one was impending; for was the woman up there really a woman likeherself and the others whose eyes were now fixed upon the hated actressno less intently than her own?

Did her keen senses deceive her, or was not what was occurring actuallya mysterious transformation?

As Althea stood there, her delicate arms seemed to have lengthened andlost even their slight roundness, her figure to have become even moreslender and incorporeal, and how strangely her thin fingers spread apart!How stiffly the strands of the parted, wholly uncurled locks stood out inthe air!

Did it not seem as if they were to help her move?

The black shadow which Althea's figure and limbs cast upon the surface ofthe brightly lighted pedestal-no, it was no deception, it not onlyresembled the spinner among insects, it presented the exact picture of aspider. 

The Greek's slender body had contracted, her delicate arms and narrowbraids of hair changed into spider legs, and the many-jointed hands werealready grasping for their prey like a spider, or preparing to wind themurderous threads around another living creature. 

"Arachne, the spider!" fell almost inaudibly from her quivering lips, and, overpowered by torturing fear, she was already turning away from thefrightful image, when the storm of applause which burst from theAlexandrian guests soothed her excited imagination. 

Instead of the spider, a slender, lank woman, with long, outstretchedbare arms, and fingers spread wide apart, fluttering hair, and wanderingeyes again stood before Ledscha. 

But no peace was yet granted to her throbbing heart, for while Althea, with perspiring brow and quivering lips, descended from the pedestal, andwas received with loud demonstrations of astonishment and delight, theglare of a flash of lightning burst through the clouds, and a loud pealof thunder shook the night air and reverberated a long time over thewater. 

At the same instant a loud cry rang from beneath the canopy. 

Thyone, the wife of Alexander the Great's comrade, though absolutelyfearless in the presence of human foes, dreaded the thunder by which Zeusannounced his anger. Seized with sudden terror, she commanded a slave toobtain a black lamb for a sacrifice, and earnestly entreated her husbandand her other companions to go on board the ship with her and seekshelter in its safe, rain-proof cabin, for already heavy drops werebeginning to fall upon the tensely drawn awning. 

"Nemesis!" exclaimed the grammateus. 

"Nemesis!" whispered young Philotas to Daphne in a confidential murmur, throwing his own costly purple cloak around her to shield her from therain. "Nowhere that we mortals overstep the bounds allotted to us do weawait her in vain. "

Then bending down to her again, he added, by way of explanation: "Thewinged daughter of Night would prove herself negligent if she allowed meto enjoy wholly without drawback the overwhelming happiness of being withyou once more. "

"Nemesis!" remarked Thoas, an aristocratic young hipparch of the guardsof the Diadochi, who had studied in Athens and belonged to thePeripatetics there. "The master sees in the figure of this goddess theindignation which the good fortune of the base or the unworthy use ofgood fortune inspires in us. She keeps the happy mean between envy andmalicious satisfaction. " The young soldier looked around him, expectingapplause, but no one was listening; the tempest was spreading terroramong most of the freedmen and slaves. 

Philotas and Myrtilus were following Daphne and her companion Chrysillaas they hurried into the tent. The deep, commanding tones of oldPhilippus vainly shouted the name of Althea, whom, as he had bestowed hishospitality upon her in Pelusium, he regarded as his charge, while atintervals he reprimanded the black slaves who were to carry his wife tothe ship, but at another heavy peal of thunder set down the litter tothrow themselves on their knees and beseech the angry god for mercy. 

Gras, the steward whom Archias had given to his daughter, a Bithynian whohad attached himself to one school of philosophy after an other, andthereby ceased to believe in the power of the Olympians, lost his quietcomposure in this confusion, and even his usual good nature deserted him. With harsh words, and no less harsh blows, he rushed upon the servants, who, instead of carrying the costly household utensils and embroideredcushions into the tent, drew out their amulets and idols to confide theirown imperilled lives to the protection of higher powers. 

Meanwhile the gusts of wind which accompanied the outbreak of the stormextinguished the lamps and pitch-pans. The awning was torn from theposts, and amid the wild confusion rang the commandant of Pelusium'sshouts for Althea and the screams of two Egyptian slave women, who, withtheir foreheads pressed to the ground, were praying, while the angry Graswas trying, by kicks and blows, to compel them to rise and go to work. 

The officers were holding a whispered consultation whether they shouldaccept the invitation of Proclus and spend the short remnant of the nighton his galley over the wine, or first, according to the counsel of theirpious commandant, wait in the neighbouring temple of Zeus until the stormwas over. 

The tempest had completely scattered Daphne's guests. Even Ledschaglanced very rarely toward the tents. She had thrown her self on theground under the sycamore to beseech the angry deity for mercy, but, deeply as fear moved her agitated soul, she could not pray, but listenedanxiously whenever an unexpected noise came from the meeting place of theGreeks. 

Then the tones of a familiar voice reached her. It was Hermon's, and theperson to whom he was speaking could be no one but the uncanny spider-woman, Althea. 

They were coming to have a secret conversation under the shade of thedense foliage of the sycamore. That was easily perceived, and in aninstant Ledscha's fear yielded to a different feeling. 

Holding her breath, she nestled close to the trunk of the ancient tree tolisten, and the first word she heard was the name "Nemesis, " which hadjust reached her from the tent. 

She knew its meaning, for Tennis also had a little temple dedicated tothe terrible goddess, which was visited by the Egyptians and Biamites aswell as the Greeks. 

A triumphant smile flitted over her unveiled features, for there was noother divinity on whose aid she could more confidently rely. She couldunchain the vengeance which threatened Hermon with a far more terribledanger than the thunder clouds above, under the protection--nay, as itwere at the behest of Nemesis. 

To-morrow she would be the first to anoint her altar. 

Now she rejoiced that her wealthy father imposed no restriction upon herin the management of household affairs, for she need spare no expense inchoosing the animal she intended to offer as a sacrifice. 

This reflection flashed through her mind with the speed of lightningwhile she was listening to Althea's conversation with the sculptor. 

"The question here can be no clever play upon the name and the nature ofthe daughter of Erebus and Night, " said the Thracian gravely. "I willremind you that there is another Nemesis besides the just being whodrives from his stolen ease the unworthy mortal who suns himself in goodfortune. The Nemesis whom I will recall to-day, while angry Zeus ishurling his thunderbolts, is the other, who chastises sacrilege--Ate, theswiftest and most terrible of the Erinyes. I will invoke her wrath uponyou in this hour if you do not confess the truth to me fully andentirely. "

"Ask, " Hermon interrupted in a hollow tone. "Only, you strange woman--"

"Only, " she hastily broke in, "whatever the answer may be, I must poseto you as the model for your Arachne--and perhaps it may come to that--but first I must know, briefly and quickly, for they will be looking forme immediately. Do you love Daphne?"

"No, " he answered positively. "True, she has been dear to me fromchildhood--"

"And, " Althea added, completing the sentence, "you owe her father a debtof gratitude. But that is not new to me; I know also how little reasonyou gave her for loving you. Yet her heart belongs neither to Philotas, the great lord with the little brain, nor to the famous sculptorMyrtilus, whose body is really too delicate to bear all the laurelswith which he is overloaded, but to you, and you alone--I know it. "

Hermon tried to contradict her, but Althea, without allowing him tospeak, went on hurriedly: "No matter! I wished to know whether you lovedher. True, according to appearances, your heart does not glow for her, and hitherto you have disdained to transform by her aid, at a singlestroke, the poverty which ill suits you into wealth. But it was notmerely to speak of the daughter of Archias that I accompanied you intothis tempest, from which I would fain escape as quickly as possible. Sospeak quickly. I am to serve you in your art, and yet, if I understoodyou correctly, you have already found here another excellent model. "

"A native of the country, " answered Hermon in an embarrassed tone. 

"And for my sake you allowed her to wait for you in vain?"

"It is as you say. "

"And you had promised to seek her?"

"Certainly; but before the appointed hour came I met you. You rosebefore me like a new sun, shedding a new light that was full of promise. Everything else sank into darkness, and, if you will fulfil the hopewhich you awakened in this heart--"

Just at that moment another flash of lightning blazed, and, while thethunder still shook the air, Althea continued his interruptedprotestation: "Then you will give yourself to me, body and soul--butZeus, who hears oaths, is reminding us of his presence--and what willawait you if the Biamite whom you betrayed invokes the wrath of Nemesisagainst you?"

"The Nemesis of the barbarians!" he retorted contemptuously. "She onlyplaced herself at the service of my art reluctantly; but you, Althea, ifyou will loan yourself to me as a model, I shall succeed in doing my verybest; for you have just permitted me to behold a miracle, Arachneherself, whom you became, you enchantress. It was real, actual life, andthat--that is the highest goal. "

"The highest?" she asked hesitatingly. "You will have to representthe female form, and beauty, Hermon, beauty?"

"Will be there, allied with truth, " flamed Hermon, "if you, you peerless, more than beautiful creature, keep your word to me. But you will! Letme be sure of it. Is a little love also blended with the wish to servethe artist?"

"A little love?" she repeated scornfully. 

"This matter concerns love complete and full--or none. We will see eachother again to-morrow. Then show me what the model Althea is worth toyou. "

With these words she vanished in the darkness, while the call of her nameagain rang from the tents. 

"Althea!" he cried in a tone of mournful reproach as he perceived herdisappearance, hurrying after her; but the dense gloom soon forced him togive up the pursuit. 

Ledscha, too, left her place beneath the sycamore. 

She had seen and heard enough. 

Duty now commanded her to execute vengeance, and the bold Hanno was readyto risk his life for her. 

CHAPTER XIII. 

The following day the sun shone radiantly, with scorching brilliancy, upon Tennis and the archipelago, which at this season of the yearsurrounded the little city of weavers. 

Young Philotas, without going to rest, had set out at dawn in pursuit ofgame, accompanied by a numerous hunting party, to which several of thePelusinian officers belonged. He, too, had brought home a great quantityof booty, with which he had expected to awaken Daphne's admiration, andto lay as a token of homage at her feet. He had intended to lead beforeher garlanded slaves bearing, tied by ropes, bunches of slaughtered wildfowl, but his reception was very different from what he had anticipated. 

Instead of praising his exploit, he had been indignantly requested toremove the poor, easily killed victims from her presence; and, woundedand disappointed, he had retired to his magnificent Nile boat, where, spent by his sleepless night, he slumbered so soundly on his softcushions that he did not appear at the breakfast which the gray-hairedcommander of Pelusium had invited him to attend on his galley. 

While the others were still feasting there, Daphne was enjoying an houralone with her companion Chrysilla. 

She had remained absent from Philippus's banquet, and her pale cheeksshowed the ill effects produced by the excitement of the previous night. 

A little before noon Hermon came to see her. He, too, had not gone tothe Pelusinian's breakfast. 

After Althea had left him the evening before he went directly back to thewhite house, and, instead of going to rest, devoted himself to Myrtilus;for the difficulty of breathing, which during his industrious life inquiet seclusion had not troubled him for several months, attacked himwith twofold violence after the gaiety of the previous night. Hermon hadnot left him an instant until day brought the sufferer relief, and he nolonger needed the supporting hand of his kind nurse. 

While Hermon, in his own sleeping room, ordered Bias to anoint his hairand beard and put on festal garments, the slave told him certain thingsthat destroyed the last remnant of composure in his easily agitated soul. 

With the firm resolution to keep the appointment on Pelican Island, Hermon had gone at sunset, in response to the Alexandrian's invitation, to attend her banquet, and by no means unwillingly, for his parents' oldfriends were dear to him, and he knew by experience the beneficialinfluence Daphne's sunny, warmhearted nature exerted upon him. 

Yet this time he did not find what he expected. 

In the first place, he had been obliged to witness how earnestly Philotaswas pressing his suit, and perceived that her companion Chrysilla wasmost eagerly assisting him. As she saw in the young aristocrat asuitable husband for the daughter of Archias, and it was her duty toassign the guests their seats at the banquet, she had given the cushionbeside Daphne to Philotas, and also willingly fulfilled Althea's desireto have Hermon for her neighbour. 

When Chrysilla presented the black-bearded artist to the Thracian, shewould have sworn that Althea found an old acquaintance in the sculptor;but Hermon treated the far-famed relative of Queen Arsinoe as coldly anddistantly as if he now saw her for the first time, and with littlepleasure. 

In truth, he was glad to avoid women of Althea's stamp. For some timehe had preferred to associate with the common people, among whom he foundhis best subjects, and kept far aloof from the court circles to whichAlthea belonged, and which, thanks to his birth and his ability as anartist, would easily have been accessible to him also. 

The over-refined women who gave themselves airs of avoiding everythingwhich imposes a restraint upon Nature, and therefore, in theirtransparent robes, treated with contempt all that modest Macedonian damesdeemed worthy of a genuine woman's consideration, were repulsive to him--perhaps because they formed so rude a contrast to his noble dead motherand to Daphne. 

Although he had been very frequently in feminine society, Althea's mannerat first caused him a certain degree of embarrassment; for, in spite ofthe fact that he believed he met her here for the first time, there wassomething familiar about her, especially in the tone of her voice, and hefancied that her first words were associated with some former ones. 

Yet no! If he had ever met her, he would surely have remembered her red-gold hair and the other peculiarities of a personality which wasremarkable in every respect. 

It soon proved that they were total strangers, and he wished matters toremain so. 

He was glad that she attracted him so little, for at least she wouldscarcely make the early departure to the Biamite, which he considered hisduty, a difficult task. 

True, he admired from the first the rare milk-white line of her delicateskin, which was wholly free from rouge--his artist eye perceived that andthe wonderfully beautiful shape of her hands and feet. The pose of thehead on the neck, too, as she turned toward him seemed remarkably fine. This slender, pliant woman would have been an admirable model!

Again and again she reminded him of a gay Lesbian with whom he hadcaroused for a night during the last Dionysia in Alexandria, yet, oncloser inspection, the two were as different as possible. 

The former had been as free and reckless in her conduct as Althea wasreserved. The hair and eyebrows of the Lesbian, instead of reddish gold, were the deepest black, and her complexion--he remembered it perfectly--was much darker. The resemblance probably consisted merely in the shapeof the somewhat too narrow face, with its absolutely straight nose, and achin which was rather too small, as well as in the sound of the highvoice. 

Not a serious word had reached his ears from the wanton lips of theLesbian, while Althea at once desired information concerning his art, and showed that she was thoroughly familiar with the works and theaspirations of the Alexandrian sculptors. Although aware that Hermon hadbegun his career as an artist, and was the leader of a new tendency, shepretended to belong to the old school, and thereby irritated him tocontradiction and the explanation of his efforts, which were rooted inthe demands of the present day and the life of the flourishing capital. 

The Thracian listened to the description of the new art struggling topresent truth, as if these things were welcome surprises, grandrevelations, for which she had waited with eager longing. True, sheopposed every statement hostile to the old beliefs; but her extremelyexpressive features soon betrayed to him that he was stirring her toreflect, shaking her opinions, and winning her to his side. 

Already, for the sake of the good cause, he devoted himself with theutmost zeal to the task of convincing Althea; she, however, did notmake it an easy one, but presented clever arguments against hisassertions. 

Whenever he or she, by way of example, mentioned any well-known workof art, she imitated, as if involuntarily, its pose and action withsurprising fidelity, frequently also in admirable caricature, whoseeffect was extremely comical. What a woman!

She was familiar with whatever Grecian art had created, and the animatedconversation became a bewitching spectacle. When the grammateus Proclus, who as Althea's travelling companion had a certain claim upon herattention, mingled for a while in the discussion and attracted Althea'snotice, Hermon felt injured, and answered his sensible remarks with suchrudeness that the elder man, whose social position was so much higher, angrily turned his back upon him. 

Althea had imposed a certain degree of restraint upon herself whiletalking to the grammateus, but during the further conversation withHermon she confessed that she was decidedly of his opinion, and added tothe old reasons for the deposition of beauty and ideality in favour oftruth and reality new ones which surprised the sculptor. When she atlast offered him her hand for a firm alliance, his brain was fevered, and it seemed a great honour when she asked eagerly what would occupy himin the immediate future. 

Passionate sympathy echoed in every word, was expressed in every feature, and she listened as if a great happiness was in store for herself when hedisclosed the hopes which he based upon the statue of Arachne. 

True, as time passed he had spoken more than once of the necessity ofretiring, and before midnight really tried to depart; but he had fallenunder Althea's thrall, and, in reply to her inquiry what must shortenthese exquisite hours, had informed her, in significant words, what drewhim away, and that his delay threatened him with the loss of a model suchas the favour of fate rarely bestowed upon an artist. 

Now the Thracian for the first time permitted her eyes to make frankconfessions. She also bent forward with a natural movement to examinethe artistic work on a silver vase, and as while doing so her peplos fellover his hand, she pressed it tenderly. 

He gazed ardently up at her; but she whispered softly: "Stay! You willgain through me something better than awaits you there, and not only forto-day and to-morrow. We shall meet again in Alexandria, and to serveyour art there shall be a beloved duty. "

His power of resistance was broken; yet he beckoned to his slave Bias, who was busied with the mixing jars, and ordered him to seek Ledscha andtell her not to wait longer; urgent duties detained him. 

While he was giving this direction, Althea had become engaged in the gayconversation of the others, and, as Thyone called Hermon, and he was alsoobliged to speak to Daphne, he could not again obtain an opportunity forprivate talk with the wonderful woman who held out far grander prospectsfor his art than the refractory, rude Biamite maiden. 

Soon Althea's performance seemed to prove how fortunate a choice he hadmade. Her Arachne appeared like a revelation to him. If she kept herpromise, and he succeeded in modelling her in the pose assumed whileimagining the process of transformation, and presented her idea to thespectators, the great success which hitherto--because he had not yieldedto demands which were opposed to his convictions--he had vainly expected, could no longer escape him. The Alexandrian fellow-artists who belongedto his party would gratefully welcome this special work; for what grewout of it would have nothing in common with the fascination of superhumanbeauty, by which the older artists ensnared the hearts and minds of themultitude. He would create a genuine woman, who would not lack defects, yet who, though she inspired neither gratification nor rapture, wouldtouch, perhaps even thrill, the heart by absolute truth. 

While Althea was standing on the pedestal, she had not only representedthe transformation into the spider, but experienced it, and the featuresof the spectators revealed that they believed they were witnessing thesinister event. His aim was now to awaken the same feeling in thebeholders of his Arachne. Nothing, nothing at all must be changed in thefigure of the model, in which many might miss the roundness and plumpnessso pleasing to the eye. Althea's very defects would perfect the figureof the restless, wretched weaver whom Athene transformed into the spider. 

While devoting himself to nursing his friend, he had thought far less ofthe new love-happiness which, in spite of her swift flight, was probablyawaiting him through Althea than of the work which was to fill hisexistence in the immediate future. 

His healthy body, steeled in the palaestra, felt no fatigue after thesleepless night passed amid so many powerful excitements when he retiredto his chamber and committed himself to the hands of his slave. 

It had not been possible to hear his report before, but when he at lastreceived it Hermon was to learn something extremely unpleasant, and notonly because no word of apology or even explanation of his absence hadreached Ledscha. 

Bias was little to blame for this neglect, for, in the first place, hehad found no boat to reach the Pelican Island, because half Tennis was onthe road to Tanis, where, on the night of the full moon, the brilliantfestivals of the full eye of Horns and the great Astarte were celebratedby the mixed population of this place. When a boat which belonged toDaphne's galley was finally given to him, the Biamite girl was no longerat the place appointed for the meeting. 

Hoping to find her on the Owl's Nest with old Tabus, he then landedthere, but had been so uncivilly rebuffed on the shore by a rough fellowthat he might be glad to have escaped with sound limbs. Lastly, he stoleto Ledscha's home, and, knowing that her father was absent, had venturedas far as the open courtyard in the centre of the stately dwelling. Thedogs knew him, and as a light was shining from one of the rooms thatopened upon the courtyard, he peeped in and saw Taus, Ledscha's youngersister. She was kneeling before the statue of a god at the back of theroom, weeping, while the old housekeeper had fallen asleep with thedistaff in her lap. 

He called cautiously to the pretty child. She was awaiting the return ofher sister, who, she supposed, was still detained on the Owl's Nest byold Tabus's predictions; she had sorrowful tidings for her. 

The husband of her friend Gula had returned on his ship and learned thathis wife had gone to the Greek's studio. He had raged like a madman, andturned the unfortunate woman pitilessly out of doors after sunset. Herown parents had only been induced to receive her with great difficulty. Paseth, the jealous husband, had spared her life and refrained from goingat once to kill the artist solely because Hermon had saved his littledaughter at his own peril from the burning house. 

"Now, " said Ledscha's pretty little sister, "it would also be known thatshe had gone with Gula to his master, who was certainly a handsome man, but for whom, now that young Smethis was wooing her, she cared no morethan she did for her runaway cat. All Tennis would point at her, and shedared not even think what her father would do when he came home. "

These communications had increased Hermon's anxiety. 

He was a brave man, and did not fear the vengeance of the enragedhusband, against whom he was conscious of no guilt except havingpersuaded his wife to commit an imprudence. What troubled him was onlythe consciousness that he had given her and innocent little Taus everyreason to curse their meeting. 

The ardent warmth with which Gula blessed him as the preserver of herchild had given him infinite pleasure. Now it seemed as if he had beenguilty of an act of baseness by inducing her to render a service whichwas by no means free from danger, as though he wished to be paid for agood deed. 

Besides, the slave had represented the possible consequences of hisimprudence in the most gloomy light, and, with the assurance of knowingthe disposition of his fellow-countrymen, urged his master to leaveTennis at once; the other Biamite men, who would bear anything ratherthan the interference of a Greek in their married lives, might forceGula's husband to take vengeance on him. 

He said nothing about anxiety concerning his own safety, but he had goodreason to fear being regarded as a go-between and called to account forit. 

But his warnings and entreaties seemed to find deaf ears in Hermon. True, he intended to leave Tennis as soon as possible, for what advantagecould he now find here? First, however, he must attend to the packing ofthe statues, and then try to appease Ledscha, and make Gula's husbandunderstand that he was casting off his pretty wife unjustly. 

He would not think of making a hasty departure, he told the slave, especially as he was to meet Althea, Queen Arsinoe's art-appreciatingrelative, in whom he had gained a friend, later in Alexandria. 

Then Bias informed him of a discovery to which one of the Thracian'sslave women had helped him, and what he carelessly told his master drovethe blood from his cheeks, and, though his voice was almost stifled bysurprise and shame, made him assail him with questions. 

What great thing had he revealed? There had been reckless gaiety atevery festival of Dionysus since he had been in the artist's service, and the slaves had indulged in the festal mirth no less freely than themasters. To intoxicate themselves with wine, the gift of the god to whomthey were paying homage, was not only permitted, but commanded, and thejuice of the grape proved its all-equalizing power. 

There had been no lack of pretty companions even for him, the bondman, and the most beautiful of all had made eyes at his master, the tall, slender man with the splendid black beard. 

The reckless Lesbian who had favoured Hermon at the last Dionysia hadplayed pranks with him madly enough, but then had suddenly vanished. Byhis master's orders Bias had tried to find her again, but, in spite ofhonest search, in vain. 

Just now he had met, as Althea's maid, the little Syrian Margula, who hadbeen in her company, and raced along in the procession of bacchanals inhis, Bias's, arms. True, she could not be persuaded to make a frankconfession, but he, Bias, would let his right hand wither if Hermon'scompanion at the Dionysia was any other than Althea. His master wouldown that he was right if he imagined her with black hair instead of red. Plenty of people in Alexandria practised the art of dyeing, and it waswell known that Queen Arsinoe herself willingly mingled in the throng atthe Dionysia with a handsome Ephebi, who did not suspect the identity ofhis companion. 

This was the information which had so deeply agitated Hermon, and thenled him, after pacing to and fro a short time, to go first to Myrtilusand then to Daphne. 

He had found his friend sleeping, and though every fibre of his beingurged him to speak to him, he forced himself to leave the suffererundisturbed. 

Yet so torturing a sense of dissatisfaction with himself, so keen aresentment against his own adverse destiny had awaked within him, that hecould no longer endure to remain in the presence of his work, with whichhe was more and more dissatisfied. 

Away from the studio!

There was a gay party on board the galley of his parents' old friends. Wine should bring him forgetfulness, too, bless him again with the senseof joyous existence which he knew so well, and which he now seemed on thepoint of losing. 

When he had once talked and drunk himself into the right mood, life wouldwear a less gloomy face. 

No! It should once more be a gay and reckless one. 

And Althea?

He would meet her, with whom he had once caroused and revelled madlyenough in the intoxication of the last Dionysia, and, instead of allowinghimself to be fooled any longer and continuing to bow respectfully beforeher, would assert all the rights she had formerly so liberally granted. 

He would enjoy to-day, forget to-morrow, and be gay with the gay. 

Eager for new pleasure, he drew a long breath as he went out into theopen air, pressed his hands upon his broad chest, and with his eyes fixedupon the commandant of Pelusium's galley, bedecked with flags, walkedswiftly toward the landing place. 

Suddenly from the deck, shaded by an awning, the loud laugh of a woman'sshrill voice reached his ear, blended with the deeper tones of thegrammateus, whose attacks on the previous night Hermon had not forgotten. 

He stopped as if the laugh had pierced him to the heart. Proclusappeared to be on the most familiar terms with Althea, and to meet himwith the Thracian now seemed impossible. He longed for mirth andpleasure, but was unwilling to share it with these two. As he dared notdisturb Myrtilus, there was only one place where he could find what heneeded, and this was--he had said so to himself when he turned his backon his sleeping friend--in Daphne's society. 

Only yesterday he would have sought her without a second thought, butto-day Althea's declaration that he was the only man whom the daughterof Archias loved stood between him and his friend. 

He knew that from childhood she had watched his every step with sisterlyaffection. A hundred times she had proved her loyalty; yet, dear as shewas to him, willingly as he would have risked his life to save her from adanger, it had never entered his mind to give the tie that united themthe name of love. 

An older relative of both in Alexandria had once advised him, when he wascomplaining of his poverty, to seek her hand, but his pride of manhoodrebelled against having the wealth which fate denied flung into his lapby a woman. When she looked at him with her honest eyes, he could neverhave brought himself to feign anything, least of all a passion of which, tenderly attached to her though he had been for years, hitherto he hadknown nothing. 

"Do you love her?" Hermon asked himself as he walked toward Daphne'stent, and the anticipated "No" had pressed itself upon him far lessquickly than he expected. 

One thing was undeniably certain: whoever won her for a wife--eventhough she were the poorest of the poor--must be numbered among the mostenviable of men. And should he not recognise in his aversion to everyone of her suitors, and now to the aristocratic young Philotas, a feelingwhich resembled jealousy?

No! He did not and would not love Daphne. If she were really his, andwhatever concerned him had become hers, with whom could he have soughtin hours like these soothing, kind, and sensible counsel, comfort thatcalmed the heart, and the refreshing dew which his fading courage andfaltering creative power required?

The bare thought of touching clay and wax with his fingers, or takinghammer, chisel, and file in his hands, was now repulsive; and when, justoutside of the tent, a Biamite woman who was bringing fish to the cookreminded him of Ledscha, and that he had lost in her the right model forhis Arachne, he scarcely regretted it. 

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