'Hold thy peace,' said she. 'Not now. Later thou shalt know.'
The soldiers withdrew, having accomplished the safety of one only. A deep silence for a moment reigned. Neither spoke. Both hearts were too full for speech. Chios took the hands of Saronia and clasped them within his own, and with silent joy gazed into her face.
She broke the silence with an agonizing cry. Going towards the lifeless form, she uncovered the cold, dead face, and, stooping, kissed the snowy brow, sobbing:
'Oh, Endora, Endora, thou hast proved thy love! Thou hast proved thy love to me!'
'Endora!' exclaimed Chios. 'Is it Endora?'
'Yes, it is Endora. She received the death intended for me. Look well at her, Chios. Gaze on her peaceful face. Gaze on her face. Dost thou recognise who she was? It is meet thou shouldst know, for she loved thee dearly.'
Chios was like a man stupefied with wine.
'What dost thou mean, Saronia? I know her not, save as the mountain sorceress.'
'True, Chios. That is the answer I might have expected. But one day, not so very long ago, I visited the Ephesian shore, and on a rocky eminence where an altar stands—— Thou knowest the place where the seas dash up?'