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heavy step； the eyes fixed； the jaw dropped； but they had an air of
sincerity。 They knelt down； each in turn； before the sarcophagus； and
put their lips to it。 The women lifted their little children in their
arms； and gently placed their cheek to the stone。
Thais； surprised and troubled； asked a deacon why they did so。
〃Do you not know； woman；〃 replied the deacon； 〃that we celebrate
to…day the blessed memory of St。 Theodore the Nubian； who suffered for
the faith in the days of the Emperor Diocletian？ He lived virtuously
and died a martyr； and that is why； robed in white； we bear red roses
to his glorious tomb。〃
On hearing these words； Thais fell on her knees； and burst into tears。
Half…forgotten recollections of Ahmes returned to her mind。 On the
memory of this obscure； gentle； and unfortunate man； the blaze of
candles； the perfume of roses； the clouds of incense； the music of
hymns； the piety of souls； threw all the charms of glory。 Thais
thought in the dazzling glare
〃He was good； and now he has become great and glorious。 Why is it that
he is elevated above other men？ What is this unknown thing which is
more than riches or pleasure？〃
She rose slowly； and turned towards the tomb of the saint who had
loved her； those violet eyes； now filled with tears which glittered in
the candle…light； then； with bowed head； humble； slow； and the last；
with those lips on which so many desires hung； she kissed the stone of
the slave's tomb。
When she returned to her house； she found Nicias； who； with his hair
perfumed； and his tunic thrown open； was reading a treatise on morals
whilst waiting for her。 He advanced with open arms。
〃Naughty Thais；〃 he said； in a laughing voice； 〃whilst I was waiting
for you to come； do you know what I saw in this manuscript； written by
the gravest of Stoics？ Precepts of virtue and noble maxims： No！ On the
staid papyrus； I saw dance thousands and thousands of little Thaises。
Each was no bigger than my finger； and yet their grace was infinite；
and all were the only Thais。 There were some who flaunted in mantles
of purple and gold； others； like a white cloud； floated in the air in
transparent drapery。 Others again； motionless and divinely nude； the
better to inspire pleasure； expressed no thought。 Lastly； there were
two； hand in hand； two so alike that it was impossible to distinguish
one from the other。 Both smiled。 The first said； 'I am love。' The
other； 'I am death。' 〃
Thus speaking； he pressed Thais in his arms； and not noticing the
sullen look in her downcast eyes； he went on adding thought to
thought； heedless of the fact that they were all lost upon her。
〃Yes； when I had before my eyes the line in which it was written；
'Nothing should deter you from improving your mind；' I read； 'The
kisses of Thais are warmer than fire； and sweeter than honey。' That is
how a philosopher reads the books of other philosophersand that is
your fault； you naughty child。 It is true that； as long as we are what
we are； we shall never find anything but our own thoughts in the
thoughts of others； and that all of us are somewhat inclined to read
books as I have read this one。〃
She did not hear him； her soul was still before the Nubian's tomb。 As
he heard her sigh； he kissed her on the neck； and said
〃Do not be sad； my child。 We are never happy in this world； except
when we forget the world。
〃Come； let us cheat lifeit is sure to take its revenge。 Come； let us
love！〃
But she pushed him away。
〃/We/ love！〃 she cried bitterly。 〃/You/ never loved any one。 And /I/
do not love /you/！ No！ I do not love you！ I hate you！ Go！ I hate you！
I curse and despise all who are happy； and all who are rich！ Go！ Go！
Goodness is only found amongst the unfortunate。 When I was a child I
knew a black slave who died on the cross。 He was good； he was filled
with love； and he knew the secret of life。 You are not worthy to wash
his feet。 Go！ I never wish to see you again！〃
She threw herself on her face on the carpet； and passed the night
sobbing and weeping； and forming resolutions to live； in future； like
Saint Theodore； in poverty and humbleness。
The next day； she devoted herself again to those pleasures to which
she was addicted。 As she knew that her beauty； though still intact；
would not last very long； she hastened to derive all the enjoyment and
all the fame she could from it。 At the theatre； where she acted and
studied more than ever； she gave life to the imagination of sculptors；
painters； and poets。 Recognising that there was in the attitudes；
movements； and walk of the actress； an idea of the divine harmony
which rules the spheres； wise men and philosophers considered that
such perfect grace was a virtue in itself； and said； 〃Thais also is a
geometrician！〃 The ignorant； the poor； the humble； and the timid
before whom she consented to appear； regarded her as a blessing from
heaven。 Yet she was sad amidst all the praise she received； and
dreaded death more than ever。 Nothing was able to set her mind at
rest； not even her house and gardens； which were celebrated； and a
proverb throughout the city。
The gardens were planted with trees； brought at great expense from
India and Persia。 They were watered by a running brook； and colonnades
in ruins； and imitation rocks； arranged by a skilful artist； were
reflected in a lake； which also mirrored the statues that stood round
it。 In the middle of the garden was the Grotto of Nymphs； which owed
its name to three life…size figures of women； which stood on the
threshold。 They were represented as divesting themselves of their
garments； and about to bathe。 They anxiously turned their heads；
fearing to be seen； and looked as though they were alive。 The only
light which entered the building came； tempered and iridescent；
through thin sheets of water。 All the walls were hungas in the
sacred grottoeswith wreaths； garlands； and votive pictures； in which
the beauty of Thais was celebrated。 There were also tragic and comic
masks； bright with colours； and paintings representing theatrical
scenes or grotesque figures； or fabulous animals。 On a stele in the
centre stood a little ivory Eros of wonderful antique workmanship。 It
was a gift from Nicias。 In one of the bays was a figure of a goat in
black marble； with shining agate eyes。 Six alabaster kids crowded
round its teats； but； raising its cloven hoofs and its ugly head； it
seemed impatient to climb the rocks。 The floor was covered with
Byzantine carpets； pillows embroidered by the yellow men of Cathay；
and the skins of Libyan lions。 Perfumed smoke arose from golden
censers。 Flowering plants grew in large onyx vases。 And at the far
end； in the purple shadow； gleamed the gold nails on the shell of a
huge Indian tortoise turned upside down； which served as the bed of
the actress。 It was here that every day； to the murmur of the water；
and amid perfumes and flowers； Thais reclined softly； and conversed
with her friends； while awaiting the hour of supper； or meditated in
solitude on theatrical art； or on the flight of years。
On the afternoon after the games； Thais was reposing in the Grotto of
Nymphs。 She had noticed in her mirror the first si