poison before my eyes? I die, but perchance God may save you yet."
"Not so, Heliodore," I cried again, and, turning, began to grope my way to the window-place, which I knew was far from the ground, since I had no weapon that would serve my turn.
In an instant, as I thrust the lattice open, I felt two strong arms cast about me and heard the physician exclaim,
"Come, Lady, help me with this madman, lest he do himself a mischief."
She seized me also, and we struggled together all three of us. The doors burst open, and I was dragged back into the centre of the room.
"Olaf Red-Sword, the blind General of the Christians," said the physician in a new voice, one that was full of majesty and command, "I who speak to you am no doctor of medicine and no envoy. I am Harun-al-Rashid, Caliph of the Faithful. Is it not so, my servants?"
"It is so, Caliph," pealed the answer from many throats.
"Hearken, then, to the decree of Harun-al-Rashid. Learn both of you that all which has passed between us was but a play that I have played to test the love and faithfulness of you twain. Lady Heliodore, be at ease. You have drunk nothing save water distilled with roses, and no sleep shall fall on you save that which Nature brings to happiness. Lady, I tell you that, having seen what I have seen and heard what I have heard, rather would I stand in the place of that blind man to-night than be Sovereign of the East. Truly, I knew not that love such as yours was to be
