'No; but look into my eyes, and tell me thou wilt be true.'
As she gazed into his eyes a shudder passed through her, and for an instant she reeled as if drunken. Recovering herself, she said:
'Art thou satisfied?
He made no reply.
Endora cried:
'Speak—speak out straight from thy heart, or I will not receive thy secret!'
'Yes; I can trust thee,' replied Chios. 'Why, I do not know. I am safe in thine hands. Who art thou? What art thou?'
'I? I am a poor castaway, cast aside on the dung-heap like a broken lamp! I am a reptile doomed to crawl the earth like the meanest snake. I am Endora of Ephesus, the witch of Mount Pion! Who art thou? What a foolish question, when all know thee to be Chios the Greek, the great artist of this mighty city!... Thou art safe in the hands of Endora. Thou art son of some mother who cherished thy young life. Hast thou a mother?'
'No.'
'Where is she?'