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I was at the curtains； and they did not hang close； so
I could see clearly into the little cavern beyond
them。 It had all the appearance of being a tomb； and
was lit up by a fire that burned in its centre with a
whitish flame and without smoke。 Indeed； there； to the
left； was a stone shelf with a little ledge to it
three inches or so high； and on the shelf lay what I
took to be a corpse； at any rate； it looked like one；
with something white thrown over it。 To the right was
a similar shelf； on which lay some broidered
coverings。 Over the fire bent the figure of a woman；
she was sideways to me and facing the corpse； wrapped
in a dark mantle that hid her like a nun's cloak。 She
seemed to be staring at the flickering flame。
Suddenly； as I was trying to make up my mind what to
do； with a convulsive movement that somehow gave an
impression of despairing energy； the woman rose to her
feet and cast the dark cloak from her。
It was _i_ She _i_ herself！
She was clothed； as I had seen her when she unveiled；
in the kirtle of clinging white； cut low upon her
bosom； and bound in at the waist with the barbaric
double…headed snake； and； as before； her rippling
black hair fell in heavy masses down her back。 But her
face was what caught my eye； and held me as in a vise；
not this time by the force of its beauty； but by the
power of fascinated terror。 The beauty was still
there； indeed； but the agony； the blind passion； and
the awful vindictiveness displayed upon those
quivering features； and in the tortured look of the
upturned eyes； were such as surpass my powers of
description。
For a moment she stood still； her hands raised high
above her head； and as she did so the white robe
slipped from her down to her golden girdle； baring the
blinding loveliness of her form。 She stood there； her
fingers clenched； and the awful look of malevolence
gathered and deepened on her face。
Suddenly； I thought of what would happen if she
discovered me； and the reflection made me turn sick
and faint。 But even if I had known that I must die if
I stopped； I do not believe that I could have moved；
for I was absolutely fascinated。 But still I knew my
danger。 Supposing she should hear me； or see me
through the curtain； supposing I even sneezed； or that
her magic told her that she was being watchedswift
indeed would be my doom。
Down came the clinched hands to her sides； then up
again above her head； and； as I am a living and
honorable man； the white flame of the fire leaped up
after them； almost to the roof； throwing a fierce and
ghastly glare upon _i_ She _i_ herself； upon the white
figure beneath the covering； and every scroll and
detail of the rock work。
Down came the ivory arms again； and as they did so she
spoke； or rather hissed； in Arabic； in a note that
curdled my blood； and for a second stopped my heart；
〃Curse her； may she be everlastingly accursed。〃
The arms fell and the flame sank。 Up they went again；
and the broad tongue of fire shot up after them； then
again they fell。
〃Curse her memoryaccursed be the memory of the
Egyptian。〃
Up again； and again down。
〃Curse her； the fair daughter of the Nile； because of
her beauty。
〃Curse her； because her magic hath prevailed against
me。
〃Curse her； because she kept my beloved from me。〃
And again the flame dwindled and shrank。
She put her hands before her eyes； and； abandoning the
hissing tone； cried aloud：
〃What is the use of cursing？she prevailed； and she
is gone。〃
Then she commenced with an even more frightful energy：
〃Curse her where she is。 Let my curses reach her where
she is and disturb her rest。
〃Curse her through the starry spaces。 Let her shadow
be accursed。
〃Let my power find her even there。
〃Let her hear me even there； Let her hide herself in
the blackness。
〃Let her go down into the pit of despair； because I
shall one day find her。〃
Again the flame fell； and again she covered her eyes
with her hands。
〃It is no useno use；〃 she wailed； 〃who can reach
those who sleep？ Not even I can reach them。〃
Then once more she began her unholy rites。
〃Curse her when she shall be born again。 Let her be
born accursed。
〃Let her be utterly accursed from the hour of her
birth until sleep finds her。
〃Yea； then； let her be accursed； for then shall I
overtake her with my vengeance； and utterly destroy
her。〃
And so on。 The flame rose and fell； reflecting itself
in her agonized eyes； the hissing sound of her
terrible maledictions； and no words of mine；
especially on paper； can convey how terrible they
were； ran round the walls and died away in little
echoes； and the fierce light and deep gloom alternated
themselves on the white and dreadful form stretched
upon that bier of stone。
But at length she seemed to wear herself out； and
ceased。 She sat herself down upon the rocky floor； and
shook the dense cloud of her beautiful hair over her
face and breast； and began to sob terribly in the
torture of a heart…rending despair。
〃Two thousand years；〃 she moaned； 〃two thousand years
have I waited and endured； but though century doth
still creep on to century； and time give place to
time； the sting of memory hath not lessened； the light
of hope doth not shine more bright。 Oh！ to have lived
two thousand years； with my passion eating at my
heart； and with my sin ever before me。 Oh； that for me
life cannot bring forgetfulness！ Oh； for the weary
years that have。 been and are yet to come； and
evermore to come； endless and without end！
〃My love！ my love！ my love！ Why did that stranger
bring thee back to me after this sort？ For five
hundred years I have not suffered thus。 Oh； if I
sinned against thee； have I not wiped away the sin？
When wilt thou come back to me who have all； and yet
without thee have naught？ What is there that I can do？
What？ What？ What？ And perchance sheperchance that
Egyptian doth abide with thee where thou art； and mock
my memory。 Oh； why could I not die with thee； I who
slew thee？ Alas； that I cannot die！ Alas！ Alas！〃 and
she flung herself prone upon the ground； and sobbed
and wept until I thought her heart must burst。
Suddenly she ceased； raised herself to her feet；
rearranged her robe； and； tossing back her long locks
impatiently； swept across to where the figure lay upon
the stone。
〃Oh； Kallikrates；〃。 she cried； and I trembled at the
name； 〃I must look upon thy face again； though it be
agony。 It is a generation since I looked upon thee
whom I slewslew with mine own hand；〃 and with
trembling fingers she seized the corner of the
sheetlike wrapping that covered the form upon the
stone bier； and then paused。 When she spoke again； it
was in a kind of awed whisper； as though her idea were
terrible even to herself。
〃Shall I raise thee；〃 she said； apparently addressing
the corpse； 〃so that thou standest there before me； as
of old？ I can do it。〃 and she held out her hands over
the sheeted dead； while her whole frame became rigid
and terrible to see； and her eyes grew fixed and dull。
I shrank in horror behind the curtain； my hair stood
up upon my head； andwhether it was my imagination or
a fact I am unable to say； but I thought that the
quiet form beneath the covering began to quiver； and
the winding sheet to lift as though it lay on the
breast of one who slept。 Suddenly she withdrew her
hands； and the motion of the corpse seemed to me to
cease。
〃What is the use？〃 she said； gloomily。 〃Of what use is
it to recall the semblance of life if I cannot recall
the spirit。 Even if thou stoodest before me thou
wouldst not know me； and couldst but do what I bid
thee。 The life in thee would be my life； and not thy
life； Kallikrates。〃
For a moment she stood there brooding； and then cast
herself down on her knees beside the form； and began
to press her lips against the sheet； and weep。 There
was something so horrible about the sight of this awe…
inspiring woman letting loose her passion on the dead…
…so much more horrible even than anything that had
gone before； that I could no longer bear to look at it
and； turning； began to creep； shaking as I was in
every limb； slowly along the pitch…dark passage；
feeling in my trembling heart that I had had a vision
of a soul in Hell。
On I stumbled； I scarcely know how。 Twice I fell； once
I turned up the bisecting passage； but fortunately
found out my mistake in time。 For twenty minutes or
more I crept along； till at last it occurred to me
that I must have passed the little stair by which I
descended。 So； utterly exhausted； and nearly
frightened to death； I sank down at length there on
the stone flooring； and passed into oblivion。
When I came to I noticed a faint ray of light in the
passage just behind me。 I crept to it； and found it
was the little stair down which the weak dawn was
stealing。 Passing up it； I gained my chamber in
safety； and； flinging myself on the couch； was soon
lost in slumber； or rather stupor。
CHAPTER XV
AYESHA GIVES JUDGMENT
THE next thing that I remember was opening my eyes and
percei