“I like not these meetings. Evil will come of it. Other handmaids will ask to creep out, and meet their brothers—or, fonder ones.” Again the king laughed, and so that Hellen writhed.
“But, the voice hath willed that we meet.”
“I doubt the voice. It may be jugglery[[19]]—jugglery known to Khemi. There such arts are beginning.”
“Then is all in the temple jugglery!”
“Thou forgettest fear, awe. For such there is pain.”
“Tell me, King Atlano, where are Æole and Electra?”
Again the king smiled, and replied suavely:
“This night hath Æole been called to the inner holy place. Electra will go in on the morrow.” So gloating had become his look and tone that Hellen grasped at the air as if to steady himself; and repeated, dazed:
“In the inner holy place?”
“Yea.” Atlano’s tone was soft though his eyes gleamed cruelly. “The priests have willed that thou art to be parted from Æole and Electra. Their stay, for the coming time, is in the inner holy place.”