He penetrated the crowd slowly, and people recognised a priest of Tanith--the high-priest Schahabarim.

Hootings were raised, for the tyranny of the male principle prevailed that day in all consciences, and the goddess was actually so completely forgotten that the absence of her pontiffs had not been noticed.

But the amazement was increased when he was seen to open one of the doors of the trellis-work intended for those who intended to offer up victims.

It was an outrage to their god, thought the priests of Moloch, that he had just committed, and they sought with eager gestures to repel him.

Fed on the meat of the holocausts, clad in purple like kings, and wearing triple-storied crowns, they despised the pale eunuch, weakened with his macerations, and angry laughter shook their black beards, which were displayed on their breasts in the sun.
Schahabarim walked on, giving no reply, and, traversing the whole enclosure with deliberation, reached the legs of the colossus; then, spreading out both arms, he touched it on both sides, which was a solemn form of adoration.