“But he is neutral; equal for both sides upon occasion. It’s fair enough. We have him to thank for the gentleness and amiability of the great High Priest, you know.” His tone was hard and mocking; her laugh, a subtler note, not less intense. “Yes, he has been very docile.” She leant out on the balcony, her white arms pressed against the blackness, her face bent towards Lucifram. “He has been very docile, and he must mend the net. I cannot stand to see flies escaping. You must give him injunctions to tear off their legs and wings first. Why weren’t they made like worms?” “They are worms, dearest--with great capabilities of wriggling upwards now and then. Who but a worm would worship the Serpent?” “Who indeed? Many a time I sicken of them--the uninteresting swarm! Oh, why did my brother--why did Vestasian play this trick on us, of all gods--he the most trusted in, the best beloved?” “Precisely why the heavenly Councils hit on him. Now, had it been I----” “You? But tell me of this net--how must it be mended?” “Exactly as every other microscopic hole has been, with a damned soul--I mean a well-seasoned one. The worst of it is they take some time preparing.” “Are there none ready?” “None for that particular hole. It was a rather big one, and will take something pretty strong, I find. A High Priest is the very least I could put to it--it befits his office. In time he shall guard the road to Heaven from all intruders.” “Just in the same way as a High Priest guards the other.” “No, Vestné. There are two put on to guard the other. It was admirably arranged there should be two.” “And they’ve done their business disgracefully.” “The clergy, with few exceptions, always do. I mean those we are obliged to put on to our business. They soap so, and insolently refuse to be too hard worked.” “Alphonso has not erred in that respect.” “No; he shall be honoured. He shall guard the gate.” “It is no gate. It is a paltry hole.” “Large enough for Vestasian’s son to drive through--we must remember that.” “He is no son. Vestasian has no son. I doubt in harder moments if he has a wife.” But he laughed and drew her to him. “My wife talks for the sake of talking, and I listen because her voice is sweet even in these harder moments. We will guard the hole--we cannot mend it. It is one of the rules of the game.” CHAPTER I How the bright flowers were springing up after the rain, and how the birds were singing in the sunshine! The Princess of Ellel looked out of a window, and plucked some cherries off a tree and ate them with the appetite of youth. Then she drew in her head and made a wry face at her maid. “What sickly fruit you grow here; it almost beats your champagne. There’s no flavour about it--there’s no flavour about anything at all.” “Madam!” “I’m not. I won’t be called names. I’m not married. I never intend to be.” “Marriage is a wonderful sweetener, lady. It takes all the unripeness off the tongue.” “I’ll never marry, Alice.”