About two hours before noon
Tancred had resolved , the moment that it was practicable , to solicit an audience of Astarte on the subject of Eva , and to enter into all the representations respecting her which , in his opinion , were alone necessary to secure for her immediately the most considerate treatment , and ultimately a courteous release . The very circumstance that she was united to the Emir of Canobia by ties so dear and intimate , and was also an individual to whom he himself was indebted for such generous aid and such invaluable services , would , he of course assumed , independently of her own interesting personal qualities , enlist the kind feelings of Astarte in her favour . The difficulty was to obtain this audience of Astarte , for neither Fakredeen nor Keferinis was to be found , and no other means of achieving the result were obvious . About two hours before noon , Baroni brought word that he had contrived to see Cypros , from whom he gathered that Astarte had repaired to the great temple of the gods . Instantly , Tancred resolved to enter the palace , and if possible to find his way to the mysterious sanctuary . That was a course by no means easy ; but the enterprising are often fortunate , and his project proved not to be impossible . He passed through the chambers of the palace , which were entirely deserted , and with which he was familiar , and he reached without difficulty the portal of bronze , which led to the covered way that conducted to the temple , but it was closed .