"Then," she said with deliberate slowness, "if our fair Theodora persist in her unholy desire, what else is there for me to do but to take him from her just to save the poor man's soul?"
Theodora's white hands yearned for the other woman's throat.
"Deem you, your charms would snare the good pilgrim, should I will to make him mine?" she flashed.
"Why not?" Roxana purred. "Shall we try? Are you afraid?"—
"Of you?" Theodora shrilled.
A strange fire burnt in Roxana's eyes.
"Of the ordeal! Once upon a time you took from me the boy I loved. Now I shall take from you the man you desire!"
"I challenge you!"
"To the death!" Roxana flashed, appraising her rival's charms against her own. Her further utterance was checked by the sudden entrance of one of the Africans, who prostrated himself before Theodora, muttering some incoherent words at which both the woman and Basil gave a start.
"Have him thrown into the street," Basil turned to Theodora.