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They were near the house of Thais； and could see； above the wall； the
tops of the sycamore and fir trees； which surrounded the Grotto of
Nymphs； tremble in the morning breeze。 In front of them was a public
square； deserted； and surrounded with steles and votive statues； and
having at each end a semicircular marble seat； supported by figures of
monsters。 Thais fell on one of these seats。 Then； looking anxiously at
the monk； she asked
〃What must I do？〃
〃Thou must；〃 replied the monk； 〃follow Him who has come to seek thee。
He will separate thee from this present life； as the vintager gathers
the cluster that would have rotted on the tree； and bears it to the
wine…press to change it into perfumed wine。 Listen！ there is； a dozen
hours from Alexandria； towards the west； not far from the sea； a
nunnery； the rules of which； a masterpiece of wisdom； deserve to be
put in lyric verse and sung to the sound of the theorbo and
tambourines。 It may truly be said that the women who are there；
submissive to these rules； have their feet upon earth and their faces
in heaven。 They desire to be poor； that Jesus may love them； modest；
that He may gaze upon them； chaste that He may wed them。 He visits
them every day in the guise of a gardener； His feet bare； His
beautiful hands openeven as He showed Himself to Mary at the
entrance of the tomb。 I will conduct thee this very day to this
nunnery； my Thais； and soon； commingling with these holy women； thou
wilt share in their heavenly conversation。 They await thee as a
sister。 On the threshold of the convent； their mother； the pious
Albina； will give thee the kiss of peace and will say； 'My daughter；
thou art welcome！' 〃
The courtesan uttered a cry of amazement。
〃Albina！ a daughter of the Caesars！ The great niece of the Emperor
Carus！〃
〃She herself！ Albina； who； born in the purple； has donned the serge；
and a daughter of the masters of this world； has risen to the rank of
servant of Jesus Christ。 She will be thy mother。〃
Thais rose and said
〃Take me to the house of Albina。〃
And Paphnutius； completing his victory
〃Surely I will conduct thee thither； and there I will place thee in a
cell； where thou shalt weep for thy sins。 For it is not fitting that
thou shouldst mingle with the daughters of Albina until thou art
cleansed from thy sins。 I will seal the door； and there； a happy
prisoner； thou wilt wait in tears till Jesus Himself come； as a sign
of pardon； to break the seal that I have placed。 And doubt not that He
will come； Thais； and how the flesh of thy soul will tremble when thou
shalt feel the fingers of Light placed upon thy eyes to dry thy
tears！〃
Thais said a second time
〃Take me； my father； to the house of Albina。〃
His heart filled with joy； Paphnutius gazed around him； and tasted；
almost without fear； the pleasure of contemplating the works of
creation； his eyes drank in with joy God's light； and unknown breezes
fanned his cheeks。 Suddenly； seeing at one of the corners of the
public square the little door which led to Thais' house； and
remembering that the trees； whose foliage he had been admiring； shaded
the courtesan's garden； he thought of all the impurities which there
sullied the air； to…day so light and pure； and his soul was so grieved
that bitter tears sprang to his eyes。
〃Thais；〃 he said； 〃we must fly without looking back。 But we must not
leave behind us the instruments； the witnesses； the accomplices of thy
past crimes； those heavy hangings； those beds； carpets； perfume
censers and lamps； which would proclaim thy infamy！ Dost thou wish
that； animated by the demons； and carried by the evil spirit that is
in them； those accursed belongings should pursue thee even to the
desert？ It is but too true that there are tables which bring ruin；
seats which serve as the instruments of devils； which act； speak；
strike the ground； and pass through the air。 Let all perish which has
seen thy shame！ Hasten； Thais； and； whilst the city is yet asleep；
order thy slaves to make； in the centre of this place； a pile； upon
which we will burn all the abominable riches thy dwelling contains。〃
Thais consented。
〃Do as you will； my father；〃 she said。 〃I know that spirits often
dwell in inanimate objects。 At night some articles of furniture talk；
either by giving knocks at regular intervals or by emitting little
flashes of light as signals。 And even more。 Have you remarked； my
father； at the entrance to the Grotto of Nymphs； on the right； a
statue of a naked woman about to bathe？ One day I saw； with my own
eyes； that statue turn its head like a living person； and then return
to its ordinary attitude。 I was terrified。 Nicias； to whom I related
this prodigy； laughed at me； yet there must be some magic in that
statue； for it inspired with violent desires a certain Dalmatian； who
was insensible to my beauty。 It is certain that I have lived amongst
enchanted things； and that I was exposed to the greatest perils； for
men have been strangled by the embraces of a bronze statue。 Yet it
would be a pity to destroy valuable works made with rare skill； and to
burn my carpets and tapestry would be a great loss。 The beautiful
colours of some of them are truly wonderful； and they cost much money
to those who gave them to me。 I also possess cups； statues； and
pictures of great price。 I do not think they ought to perish。 But you
know what is necessary。 Do as you will； my father。〃
Thus saying； she followed the monk to the little door at which so many
garlands and wreaths had been hung； and； when it was opened； she told
the porter to call together all the slaves in the house。 Four Indians；
who were employed in the kitchen； were the first to appear。 They were
all four yellow men； and each had but one eye。 It had cost Thais much
trouble； and given her amusement； to get together these four slaves of
the same race； and all afflicted with the same infirmity。 When they
attended at table they excited the curiosity of the guests； and Thais
made them relate the story of their lives。 These four waited in
silence。 Their assistants followed them。 Then came the stablemen； the
huntsmen； the litter…bearers； and the running footmen with muscles
like iron； two gardeners hirsute as Priapus； six ferocious looking
negroes； three Greek slavesone a grammarian； another a poet； and the
third a singer。 They all stood； ranged in order； on the public square；
and were presently joined by the negressescurious； suspicious；
rolling big round eyes； and each with a huge mouth slit to her
earrings。 Lastly； adjusting their veils and languidly dragging their
feet； which were shackled with light gold chains； appeared six sulky…
looking； beautiful white slave…girls。 When they were all assembled；
Thais； pointing to Paphnutius； said
〃Do whatever this man commands you； for the spirit of God is in him；
and if you disobey him you will fall dead。〃
For she had heard； and really believed； that the earth would open and
swallow up in flames and smoke any impious wretch whom a saint of the
desert struck with his staff。
Paphnutius sent away the women and the Greek men…slaves； and said to
the others
〃Bring wood to the middle of this pl