"When our devotions had come to a close," Roxana turned to the speaker, "Theodora sent Persephoné to conduct the saintly stranger to her bowers. And then the unlooked for happened. The saintly stranger fled, like Joseph of old. He did not even leave his garb." There was an outburst of uproarious mirth. "But do these things ever happen?" fluted the Poet Bembo. "In the realms of fable," shouted the Lord of Norba. "Now men have become wiser." "And women more circumspect." Theodora turned to the speaker. "Perchance traditions have been merely reversed." "Some recent events do not seem to support the theory," drawled the Grand Chamberlain. Theodora regarded him with her strange inscrutable smile. "Who knows,--if all were told?" "The fact remains," Roxana persisted in her taunts, "that our fair Theodora's power has its limits; that there is one man at least whom she may not drug with the poison sweetness of her song." In Theodora's eyes gleamed a smouldering fire, as she met the insufferable taunts of the other woman. "Why do you not try your own charms upon him, fairest Roxana?" she turned to her tormentor. "Charms which, I grant you, are second not even to mine." Roxana's bosom heaved. A strange fire smouldered in her eyes. "And deem you I could not take him from you, if I choose?" she replied, the pupils of her eyes strangely dilated. "Not if I choose to make him mine!" flashed Theodora. Roxana's contemptuous mirth cut her to the quick. "You have tried and failed!" "I have neither tried nor have I failed." "Then you mean to try again, fairest Theodora?" came the insidious, purring reply. "That is as I choose!" "It shall be as I choose." "What do you mean, fairest Roxana?" "I mean to conquer him--to make him mine--to steep his senses in so wild a delirium that he shall forget his God, his garb, his honor. And, when I have done with him, I shall send him to the devil--or to you, fairest Theodora--to finish, what I began. This to prove you a vain boaster, who has failed to make good every claim you have put forth--" Theodora was very pale. In her voice there was an unnatural calm as she turned to the other woman. "You have boasted, you will make this austere pilgrim your own, body and soul--you will cast the tatters of his soiled virtue at my feet. I did not desire him. But now"--her eyes sank into those of the other woman, "I mean to have him,--and I shall--with you, fairest Roxana, and all your power of seduction against me! I shall have him--and when I have done with him, not even you shall desire him--nor that other, whom you serve--" Both women had risen to their feet and challenged each other with their eyes. "By the powers of darkness, you shall not!" Roxana returned, pale to the lips. "Take him from me--if you can!" Theodora flashed. "I shall conquer you--and him!" At this point the Grand Chamberlain interposed.