A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper Cylinder James De Mille

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"You don't understand," said she, with a sigh. "The Kohen is the
lowest and least influential man in the city."
"Why, who are influential if he is not?" I asked.
"The paupers," said Almah.
"The paupers!" I exclaimed, in amazement.
"Yes," said Almah. "Here among these people the paupers form the most
honored, influential, and envied portion of the community."
This was incomprehensible. Almah tried to explain, but to no purpose,
and I determined to talk to the Kohen.
CHAPTER XV
THE KOHEN IS INEXORABLE
I determined to talk to the Kohen, and try for myself whether he might
not be accessible to pity. This greatest of cannibals might, indeed,
have his little peculiarities, I thought, and who has not?--yet at
bottom he seemed full of tender and benevolent feeling; and as he
evidently spent his whole time in the endeavor to make us happy, it
seemed not unlikely that he might do something for our happiness in a
case where our very existence was at stake.
The Kohen listened with deep attention as I stated my case. I did this
fully and frankly. I talked of my love for Almah and of Almah's love
for me; our hope that we might be united so as to live happily in
reciprocal affection; and I was going on to speak of the dread that
was in my heart when he interrupted me:
"You speak of being united," said he. "You talk strangely. Of course
you mean that you wish to be separated."
"Separated!" I exclaimed. "What do you mean? Of course we wish to be
united."