Daphne began, unwillingly, to feel for Thoth something of the veneration in which he was held by all the people of the place. There seemed to be nothing which he did not understand perfectly, and she thought that it must be this superiority of knowledge which commanded such respect. Her interest in him was keenly aroused, for he seemed compounded of opposite elements. When simply speaking, he seemed as passionless as snow; but when he removed his mask, his expression revealed sometimes a keen conflict of emotion. Though he seemed in general bold, determined, and inflexible, sometimes his eyes revealed a doubtful hesitancy, and pride and confidence often seemed to give way to despair and self-pity. * * * * * Once she said to him, “Is there anything left for thee to discover?” and he replied, with all gravity, “The very beginnings of knowledge are hid from me: my knowledge is a drop in an ocean of ignorance. I have climbed a blind path which, perchance, will soon be lost in a wilderness.” And then he relapsed into a melancholy silence. Occasionally, in their wanderings and explorations, Daphne saw others disguised like themselves, and treated with similar deference by the people generally. Even these, however, showed to Thoth, on sight of his golden staff, the submission of inferiors. Daphne had been encouraged to ask questions on anything which occurred to her, and one day she said to Thoth— “Are there any superior to thee? Art thou really not the king?” “There is one to whom I owe the utmost obedience, and there are many equal to me in authority if they choose to exercise their power.” “And what do they?” He hesitated, and then, appearing to remember his promise to answer, said, “At present they spend their days and nights in sleep,—they rest to prepare for great deeds. I am vice-regent.” A strange people, thought Daphne, in which the king and his princes are sleepers, and yet some say that is like the blessed gods. * * * * * Months passed away, and Daphne began to think that Thoth must have changed his intentions regarding her. She had seen none of the other chiefs, unless those in disguise were such, and the disguise was thorough and complete. Sometimes, when half dreaming, she imagined that Thoth must be reserving her for himself; but in a moment the image of his passionless face, which never showed any emotion save that of troubled thought, put to flight the fancy. A marble statue seemed more capable of love than this superlatively wise vice-regent.