CONSTERNATION
Next morning some fishermen, who had come down the river Cayster in
their boat of many colours and crooked prow, moored it near the spot
where Chios and Saronia met the previous night. They lowered the sail,
with long yard and streaming pendant, rolled it up carefully, placed it
fore and aft across the thwarts, counted their fish, took them with
their nets and gaily stepped on shore, singing as they went, with hearts
as light as the morning breeze and hopes as bright as the sunlight. For
had they not a good catch of golden mullet which would sell well?
They moved happily along the pathway, stooping and gathering the yellow
flowers covered with silvery dew. There was plenty of time: the day had
just begun, and they would easily gain the market for the early sale.
Suddenly the foremost of them saw the body of the High Priest. He stood
aghast. By this time the others came up and stood around,
horror-stricken at the sight.
'Who has done this?' said a stalwart Ionian, with curly hair and
sparkling eyes.
'Great Jupiter!' cried another. 'Who has committed the foul deed?'
'A priest--a priest of rank!' exclaimed the third. 'See the insignia of
office!'
For a moment they knew not what to do. Their position was critical. One
suggested they might be suspected of the murder, and they had better get
on board their boat and float lower down the stream, keeping silence.
Others were for going to the city and publishing the calamity, and this
prevailed. And they hastened on, and made it known to the guard.
The news of the murder of the Chief Priest of the Temple burst like a
thunder-cloud, and spread with great rapidity until Ephesus and its
environs rang with the tidings. Messengers hastened along the coast from
Teos and Claros to Priene, and over the Meander to the Carian Miletus,
to Magnesia and Mysa through to Sardis and Smyrna, in hopes by spreading
the news that the murderer, if fled the city, might be taken.
The Agora, Gymnasium, Odeum, Theatre--all the public places were closed.
Silence seemed dropping from the heavens and casting out the joys of the
people as they hung in groups and spoke in whispers.
As the day passed, the feeling of melancholy wore off, and intense
excitement set in. The worshippers of Diana clamoured for instant
action, and blamed those who held power for not already capturing the
criminal.
Those of sounder judgment cast about for a motive for this deed, but
they also were baffled. What business had the priest at night by the
river side? Again, a thief had not killed him: everything of value
remained upon his person; his jewels were untouched, even to the sacred
Ephesian letters set in diamonds and rubies, and the sacred symbol of
the shrine in gold and opals fell over his breast in sight of all. There
was a great mystery about it. Some few dared to think within themselves
that love and jealousy might clear it.
Then it was remembered a custom existed backwards in the years that when
a new High Priest was intended to be, the new should slay the old and
take his place. And this satisfied many, whilst others who had desired
to persecute the Christians clearly saw their hands in the matter, and
preached a general massacre.
At the Temple there was sore distress. Priests went to and fro with
silent tread, and the great building resounded with cries and
lamentations. The great Priestess Saronia wore on her face a death-like
calmness.
She had heard of the fishermen finding the body, and remembered the
shriek which arose on the gusty air. She dared not speak; it would sound
her own death-knell. She could not confess her presence at the margin of
the river that fatal night.
Her lips were sealed, her tongue silenced. But dark suspicions floated
through her burning brain. Endora knew of this foul matter. Chios was
innocent, but during his absence from her the woman must have told him
all, and both held the secret.
All this was too horrible to Saronia. Wild, heaving waves of furious
thought rushed through her soul, threatening to engulf her reason, but
like a shivering barque she determined to struggle through the breakers
to the open sea and know the end.
The Temple was desolate, the High Priest gone away for ever; but little
did she know his death had saved her life, and the life of her beloved.