ignorance thou dost call that mighty agent. Look now;
and she pointed to the metallic lump she had brought with her, which, still gleaming faintly, lay upon the floor. Nay, it has no heat. Thinkest thou that I would wish to burn my tender hands and so make them unsightly? Touch it, Holly.
But I would not, who thought to myself that Ayesha might be well accustomed to the hottest fires, and feared her impish mischief. I looked, however, long and earnestly.
Well, what is it, Holly?
Gold,
I said, then corrected myself and added, Copper,
for the dull, red glow might have been that of either metal.
Nay, nay,
she answered, it is gold, pure gold.
The ore in this place must be rich,
said Leo, incredulously, for I would not speak any more.
Yes, my Leo, the iron ore is rich.
Iron ore?
and he looked at her.
Surely,
she answered, for from what mine do men dig out gold in such great masses? Iron ore, beloved, that by my alchemy I change to gold, which soon shall serve us in our need.
Now Leo stared and I groaned, for I did not believe that it was gold, and still less that she could make that metal. Then, reading my thought, with one of those sudden changes of mood that were common to her, Ayesha grew very angry.
By Nature's self!
she cried; wert thou not my friend, Holly, the fool whom it pleases me to cherish, I would bind that right hand of thine in those secret rays till the very bones within it were turned to gold. Nay, why should I be vexed with thee, who art both blind and deaf? Yet thou shalt be persuaded,
and leaving us, she passed down the passages, called something to the priests who were labouring in the workshop, then returned to us.
Presently they followed her, carrying on a kind of
