Thephantasypassed，andnowthegoldengatesofthepalaceofBaaltisrolledopenbeforeElissa.Now，too，thepriestessesborehertothegoldenthroneshapedlikeacrescentmoon，andthrewoverherablackveilspangledwithstars，symbolofthenight.Thenhavingshutouttheuninitiated，theyworshippedheraftertheirsecretfashiontillshesankdownuponthethroneovercomewithfearandweariness.Thenatlasttheycarriedhertothatwonderofworkmanshipandallegoricalart，theivorybedofBaaltis，andlaidherdowntosleep.
Atdawnuponthefollowingdayanembassy，headedbySakon，governorofthecity，inwhosetrainwereMetemandAziel，wenttothecampofIthobal.Themissionoftheseenvoyswastogivethekinganswertohissuit，forherefusedtocometoZimboeunlesshewereallowedtobringalargerforcethanitwasthoughtprudenttoadmitintothecitygates.Atsomedistancefromthetentstheyhalted，whilemessengersweresentforwardinvitingIthobaltoaconferenceontheplain，asitseemedscarcelysafetotrustthemselveswithinthestoutthornfencewhichhadbeenbuiltaboutthecamp.Metem，whosaidthathehadnofearoftheking，wentwiththesemen，andonreachingthe/zeriba/wasatoncebiddentothepavilionofIthobal.Hefoundthegreatmanpacingitslengthsullenly.
\"Whatseekyouhere，Ph？nician？\"heasked，glancingathimoverhisshoulder.
\"Myfee，King.ThekingwaspleasedtopromisemeahundredouncesofgoldifIsavedthelifeoftheLadyElissa.Icome，therefore，toassurehimthatmyskillhasprevailedagainstthepoisonedarrowofthattreacherousdogofthedesert，whichpiercedherhandasshespokewiththeprinceAzieltheothernight，andtoclaimmyreward.
Hereisanoteoftheamount，\"andheproducedhistablets.