The shadow was close to them.
“This,” she said, “is love such as the world has never seen. Let me lose myself in thee.”
The shadow had passed, and then in her anxiety Daphne became cold and still.
Thoth roused himself and looked. Then he uttered a great cry—“Too late; all is over!”
“Art thou certain?”
“Every one by this time is dead beyond recall. Thus ends the greatest scheme ever planned by man.”
CHAPTER XX.
THE RETURN TO ATHENS.
Although Thoth assured Daphne in the most explicit manner that the whole assembly of the royal race must have perished, she insisted upon instant flight.
The danger had been so great and the culminating events so appalling, that she desired above everything to be hundreds of leagues from the scene.
Thoth became silent and gloomy, and most reluctantly agreed to obey her requests. Daphne attempted to soothe him, and to make his deed appear great and noble, but without effect.