At that moment some shadow passed by the window on the first story. Then a rustle was heard, and from the door to the middle of the room sprang in--Lykon. Kama was amazed. She seized her head suddenly, and in her eyes immense terror was depicted. "Lykon!" whispered she. "Thou here, Lykon? Be off! They are searching for thee." "I know," answered the Greek, with a jeering laugh. "All the Phœnicians are hunting me, and all the police of his holiness. Still I am with thee, and I have been in thy lord's chamber." "Wert thou with the prince?" "Yes; in his own bedchamber. And I should have left a dagger in his breast if the evil spirits had not saved him. Evidently he went to some other woman, not to thee." "What dost thou wish here?" whispered Kama. "Flee!" "But with thee. On the street a chariot is ready for us; on this we shall ride to the Nile, and there my boat is in waiting." "Thou hast gone mad! But the city and the streets are filled with warriors." "For that very reason I was able to enter this palace, and we can escape very easily. Collect all thy treasures. I shall be back here immediately and take thee." "Whither art thou going?" "I am seeking thy lord. I shall not go without leaving him a memento." "Thou art mad!" "Be silent!" interrupted Lykon, pale from anger. "Thou wishest yet to defend him." The Phœnician woman tottered; she clinched her fists, and an evil light flashed in her eyes. "But if thou canst not find him?" "Then I will kill one of his sleeping warriors. I will set fire to the palace. Do I know what I shall do? But I will not go without leaving a memento." The great eyes of the Phœnician woman had such a ghastly look that the Greek was astonished. "What is the matter with thee?" asked Lykon. "Nothing; listen. Thou hast never been so like the prince as to-day. Hence, if thou wish to do a good thing--" She put her face to his ear and whispered. The Greek listened in amazement. "Woman," said he, "Hades speaks through thee." "Yes; suspicion will be turned on him." "That is better than a dagger," said Lykon, laughing. "Never could I have come on that idea. Perhaps both would be better?" "No! Let her live. This will be my vengeance." "What a wicked soul!" whispered Lykon. "But thou pleasest me. We will pay them both in kingly fashion." He withdrew to the window and vanished. Kama leaned out after him, and forgetting every other thing, listened in a fever. Perhaps a quarter of an hour after the departure of Lykon, at the side of the fig grove rose the piercing shriek of a woman. It was repeated a couple of times, and then ceased. Instead of the expected delight, terror seized Kama. She fell on her knees, and gazed into the dark garden with a wandering stare. Below was heard almost noiseless running; there was a squeak at the pillar in the antechamber, and in the window appeared Lykon again in a dark mantle. He was panting with violence, and his hands trembled. "Where are thy jewels?" whispered he.