“That also cannot be undertaken at once. I must even send for my assistant Helena. It is not I who see, save mediately. The goddess has her chosen instrument, and such is Helena. Lady! Ishtar is the Truth, she has no image. She is invisible to us veiled in matter. She hides herself behind seven veils, or rather our eyes are so wrapped about that we cannot see her who is visible only in spirit. Thou knowest that in the Temple floor is a rent, and through that rent the breath of the gods ascends. I will place Helena over that rent, and she will fall into a trance, and if I say certain prayers and use certain invocations, then the veils will fall away, and in pure spiritual essence she will look into the face of Ishtar and read therein the Truth, past, present, and future. Is it your pleasure to consult the goddess?”
“Indeed I do desire it,” said Domitia.
“Thou hast no fear?”
“Fear! fear of what?”
“Of the future. It is well for us that the gods hide this from our eyes.”
Domitia turned and looked at Lamia.
“No,” she said with a smile, “I have no fear for my future.”
“That which is anticipated does not always come, but rather that which is unexpected.”
“Then when forewarned, one is forearmed.”
“If it be thy pleasure, lady, return at sunset. Then Helena shall be here, and I shall have made my preparations.”