“Dost thou say Setos hath another wife? I gave him Rahula.”
“So thou didst. But she bore him no heir; and on this pretext, Setos has two wives, instead of one; and, he makes it lawful for any man to do the same.”
“Poor hot-tempered Rahula! How doth she bear the new affliction?”
“She hath obliterated her own individuality until she is an echo whom Setos values no more than the mats under his feet.”
Yermah sent Cezardis away for rest and refreshment before giving an answer, when he was again urged to return to Tlamco.
As soon as he was alone Yermah’s mind reverted to its normal condition, and he was entirely dispassionate in his reply.
“I cannot comply with thy wishes, Cezardis,” he said. “Not that I dread the conflict inevitable with the overthrow of Setos. I have another and more difficult battle to fight.”
“I have made oath not to return without thee, and I will not. The whole country is preparing to follow thee south, and thou art the only one capable of holding them back.”
“Nothing can stay the exodus. It is the breaking up of old lines. A new dispensation is beginning, and the present order must pass forever.”
“Wilt thou let me serve thee? I would have come with thee in the beginning, had I known.”