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philosopher of these latter days？ As for this woman；
she must die； for though I can take her lover from
her； yet； while she lived； might he think tenderly of
her； and that I cannot away with。 No other woman shall
dwell in my lord's thoughts； my empire shall be all my
own。 She hath had her day； let her be content； for
better is an hour with love than a century of
lonelinessnow the night shall swallow her。〃
〃Nay； nay；〃 I cried； 〃it would be a wicked crime； and
from a crime naught comes but what is evil。 For thine
own sake do not this deed。〃
〃Is it； then； a crime； O foolish man； to put away that
which stands between us and our ends？ Then is our life
one long crime； my Holly； for day by day we destroy
that we may live； since in this world none save the
strongest can endure。 Those who are weak must perish；
the earth is to the strong； and the fruits thereof。
For every tree that grows； a score shall wither； that
the strong ones may take their share。 We run to place
and power over the dead bodies of those who fail and
fall； ay； we win the food we eat from out the mouths
of starving babes。 It is the scheme of things。 Thou
sayest； too； that a crime breeds evil； but therein
thou dost lack experience； for out of crimes come many
good things； and out of good grows much evil。 The
cruel rage of the tyrant may prove a blessing to
thousands who come after him； and the sweet…
heartedness of a holy man may make a nation slaves。
Man doeth this and doeth that from the good or evil of
his heart； but he knoweth not to what end his moral
sense doth prompt him； for when he striketh he is
blind to where the blow shall fall； nor can he count
the airy threads that weave the web of circumstance。
Good and evil； love and hate； night and day； sweet and
bitter； man and woman； heaven above and earth beneath…
…all these things are necessary one to the other； and
who knows the end of each？ I tell thee that there is a
hand of Fate that twines them up to bear the burden of
its purpose； and all things are gathered in that great
rope to which all things are needful。 Therefore doth
it not become us to say this thing is evil and this
good； or the dark is hateful and the light lovely； for
to other eyes than ours the evil may be the good and
the darkness more beautiful than the day； or all alike
be fair。 Hearest thou； my Holly？〃
I felt it was hopeless to argue against casuistry of
this nature； which； if it were carried to its logical
conclusion； would absolutely destroy all morality； as
we understand it。 But her talk gave me a fresh thrill
of fear； for what may not be possible to a being who；
unconstrained by human law； is also absolutely
unshackled by a moral sense of right and wrong； which；
however partial and conventional it may be； is yet
based； as our conscience tells us； upon the great wall
of individual responsibility that marks off mankind
from the beasts。
But I was deeply anxious to save Ustane； whom I liked
and respected； from the dire fate that overshadowed
her at the hands of her mighty rival。 So I made one
more appeal。
〃Ayesha；〃 I said； 〃thou art too subtle for me； but
thou thyself hast told me that each man should be a
law unto himself； and follow the teaching of his
heart。 Hath thy heart no mercy towards her whose place
thou wouldst take？ Bethink thee； as thou sayest
though to me the thing is incrediblehim whom thou
desirest has returned to thee after many ages； and but
now thou hast； as thou sayest also； wrung him from the
jaws of death。 Wilt thou celebrate his coming by the
murder of one who loved him； and whom perchance he
lovedone； at the least who saved his life for thee
when the spears of thy slaves would have made an end
thereof？ Thou sayest also that in past days thou didst
grievously wrong this man； that with thine own hand
thou didst slay him because of the Egyptian Amenartas
whom he loved。〃
〃How knowest thou that； O stranger？ How knowest thou
that name？ I spoke it not to thee；〃 she broke in with
a cry； catching at my arm。
〃Perchance I dreamed it；〃 I answered； 〃strange dreams
do hover about these caves of Ko^r。 It seems that the
dream was； indeed； a shadow of the truth。 What came to
thee of thy mad crime？two thousand years of waiting；
was it not？ And now wouldst thou repeat the history？
Say what thou wilt； I tell thee that evil will come of
it； for to him who doeth； at the least； good breeds
good and evil evil； even though in after…days out of
evil cometh good。 Offences must needs come； but woe to
him by whom the offence cometh。 So said that Messiah
of whom I spoke to thee； and it was truly said。 If
thou slayest this innocent woman； I say unto thee that
thou shalt be accursed； and pluck no fruit from thine
ancient tree of love。 Also； what thinkest thou？ How
will this man take thee redhanded from the slaughter
of her who loved and tended him？''
〃As to that；〃 she answered； 〃I have already answered
thee。 Had I slain thee as well as her； yet should he
love me； Holly； because he could not save himself
therefrom any more than thou couldst save thyself from
dying； if by chance I slew thee； O Holly。 And yet；
maybe there is truth in what thou dost say； for in
some way it presseth on my mind。 If it may be I will
spare this woman； for have I not told thee that I am
not cruel for the sake of cruelty？ I love not to see
suffering or to cause it。 Let her come before me
quick； now； before my mood changes；〃 and she hastily
covered her face with its gauzy wrapping。
Well pleased to have succeeded even to this extent； I
passed out into the passage and called to Ustane；
whose white garment I caught sight of some yards away；
huddled up against one of the earthenware lamps that
were placed at intervals along the tunnel。 She rose；
and ran towards me。
〃Is my lord dead？ Oh； say not he is dead；〃 she cried；
lifting her noble…looking face； all stained as it was
with tears； up to me with an air of infinite
beseeching that went straight to my heart。
〃Nay； he lives；〃 I answered。 〃 _i_ She _i_ hath saved
him。 Enter。〃
She sighed deeply； entered； and fell upon her hands
and knees； after the custom of the Amahagger people；
in the presence of the dread _i_ She _i_。
〃Stand；〃 said Ayesha； in her coldest voice； 〃and come
hither。〃
Ustane obeyed； standing before her with bowed head。
Then came a pause； which Ayesha broke。
〃Who is this man？〃 she said； pointing to the sleeping
form of Leo。
〃The man is my husband；〃 she answered in a low voice。
〃Who gave him to thee for a husband？〃
〃I took him according to the custom of our country； O
_i_ She _i_ 。〃
〃Thou hast done evil； woman； in taking this man； who
is a stranger。 He is not a man of thine own race； and
the custom fails。 Listen： perchance thou didst this
thing through ignorance； therefore； woman； do I spare
thee； otherwise hadst thou died。 Listen again。 Go from
hence back to thine own place； and never dare to speak
to or set thine eyes upon this man again。 He is not
for thee。 Listen a third time。 If thou breakest this
my law； that moment thou diest。 Go。〃