"Listen, Lady Hellayne," she said. "You are alone in Rome! At the mercy of any one who desires you! Your lover is accused of the most heinous crime. He has taken the consecrated wafer from the chapel in the Lateran and, who knows, from how many other churches in Rome." Hellayne's eyes sank into those of the other woman. "No one knows better than yourself, Lady Theodora, how utterly false and infamous this accusation is. Tristan is a devout son of the Church. His whole life bears testimony thereof." "If the Consistory pronounce him guilty, who will believe him innocent?" came the mocking reply. "His God--his conscience--and I," Hellayne replied quietly. "Will that save his life--which is forfeit?" Theodora interposed. "Where is he? Oh, where is he?" For a moment Hellayne gave way to her emotions. "He lies in the vaults of Castel San Angelo," Theodora replied, "awaiting his doom." "Oh, God! Oh, God!" Hellayne moaned, covering her face with her hands and sobbing convulsively. "His rescue--though difficult of achievement--lies with you," Theodora said, veiling her inmost feelings. She was staking all on the last throw. "With me?" Hellayne turned to her piteously. "I will tell you," Theodora interposed, placing her white hands on Hellayne's shoulders. "The Consistory has spoken--" she lied--"and no power on earth can save your lover from his doom save--myself!" "How may that be?" "I know the ways of the Emperor's Tomb. Its denizens obey me! If you love him as I do you will bring the sacrifice and save his life." "Oh, save him if you can, Lady Theodora," Hellayne prayed, her hands closing round Theodora's wrists. "Save him--save him." "I shall, if you will do this thing, I ask," Theodora replied, sinking her dark orbs into the blue depths of Hellayne's. "What am I to do?" "It is easy. Here are stylus and tablet. Write to the Lord Basil to meet you at the Groves of Theodora. A hint of love, passion, promise--fulfillment of his desires--then give it to me. It shall save your lover." For a moment Hellayne stared wild-eyed at the woman. It was as if she had heard a voice, the meaning of which she no longer understood. Then, in her unimpassioned voice, she turned to Theodora. "Only the fiend himself and Theodora could ask as much!" The blood was coursing like a stream of lava through Theodora's veins. Would Hellayne but step out of her reserve! Would she but abandon her icy calm! "Then you refuse?" she flashed. "I defy you," Hellayne replied. "Do your worst! Rather would I see him dead than defiled by such as you!" "Would you, indeed?" Theodora returned with a deadly calm. "Nevertheless, when first we met, he, for the mere asking, gave to me a scarf of blue samite, a chased dagger, tokens from the woman he had loved." Theodora paused, to watch the effect of the poison shaft she had sped. She saw by Hellayne's agonized expression that it had struck home. "For the last time, Lady Hellayne, do my bidding!"