John the Baptist, the strong, fine youth, came up out of the
wilderness crying in the streets of Jerusalem, "Repent ye! Repent ye!"
Salome heard the call and from her window looked with half- closed,
catlike eyes upon the semi-naked, young fanatic.
She smiled, did this idle creature of luxury, as she lay there amid
the cushions on her couch, and gazed through the casement upon the
preacher in the street.
Suddenly a thought came to her.
She arose on her elbow--she called her slaves.
They clothed her in a gaudy gown, dressed her hair, and led her forth.
Salome followed the wild, weird, religious enthusiast.
She pushed through the crowd and placed herself near the man, so the
smell of her body would reach his nostrils.
His eyes ranged the swelling lines of her body.
Their eyes met.
She half-smiled and gave him that look which had snared the soul of
many another.
But he only gazed at her with passionless, judging intensity and
repeated his cry, "Repent ye. Repent ye, for the day is at hand!"