Page:Harold Lamb--The House of the Falcon.djvu/201

 nearer to one of the pillars and leaned against it with folded arms.

"Edith, why in the world did you come here?"

"I came—to see the priest, to try to end this war with the Vulture," she whispered.

At that Donovan turned away, so that she could not make out whether he was angered or not.

"Wait," she caught his answering whisper, "until the Sayaks have passed out. The women would see through you."

His face was expressionless as he watched the actions of the priest. Edith saw that the sun's ray had fallen full on the swirling vapor. Color, limitless, impalpable, iridescent, flooded the vapor. A haze of shimmering green and purple and red hung from dome to well. It was as if a veil of supernatural softness and beauty had been dropped from the sky.

And in the heart of the steaming vapor the hadji had taken his stand. He had ascended the gold fretwork by some hidden steps and now stood on the top of the grille, with clouds of steam rising on all sides of him.