'Bessas lies before you. Ply your spells; make of him your creature;
then whisper in his ear such promise of infinite gold as will make
his liver melt. For _him_ the baser guerdon; for _you_, O Heliodora,
all the wishes of your noble heart, with power, power, power and
glory unspeakable!'
Heliodora pondered. Then, without raising her head, she asked
quietly:
'You speak for the King?'
'For the King,' was answered in like tone.
'Come to me again, Marcian, when I have had time for thought.'
With that they parted. On the same day, Sagaris was bidden as before
to a meeting after nightfall, and again he conversed with a lady
whose face was concealed from him. She began with a gentle reproof,
for he had ventured to present himself at her door, and to beg
audience. Let him be patient; his hour would come, but it must be
when she chose. Many questions did she put to him, all seeming to be
prompted by interest in the Gothic maiden of whom Sagaris had heard
so much. With the simplicity of inordinate conceit, he assured her
that here she had no ground for jealousy; Veranilda he had never
beheld.
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