Part 24 (1/2)

Moreover, her whole aspect had changed, for now she was no longer a priestess sworn towoman

”It is done, Shabaka,” she whispered, ”and thou art mine and I am thine”

Then I opened my arms and she sank upon my breast and for the first time I kissed her on the lips, kissed her many times and oh!was that sweet moment of love's first fruits, whereon I had sown the seed sosweet things into each other's ears, I heard a voice calling o away before I had even tiathered The news before it was that the Satrap Idernes lay camped upon the Nile with soreat pyra distance of Meers announced that he purposed to visit the Prince Peroa that day with a snet, for which visit he de and in those of the Gods of Egypt and the East Failing this he would at once attack Meiven hinet, which, until he beheld it with his own eyes, he believed to be a forgery

The question hat answer should be sent to hi and earnest Soh his caly entrenched and flanked on one side by the Nile and on the other by the rising ground whereon stood the great sphinx and the pyraht otherwise, for I hold that soive counsel that day which, if it were good for Egypt was most ill for ry at the loss of her votary

I pointed out that by receiving Idernes Peroa would gain time which would enable a body of three thousanddown the Nile, to join us before they were perhaps cut off froer Also I showed that having sunet, we should put ourselves in the wrong if we refused to receive him and instead attacked hi hi hiain that not only would it involve the breaking of a sole the curse of the Gods upon our cause and proclaim us traitors to the world, but it would also be foolish since Idernes was not the only general of the Easterns and if we cut off him and his escort, it would avail us little for then the rest of the Easterns would fight in a just cause

So in the end it was agreed that the safe-conduct should be sent and that Peroa should receive Idernes that very day at a great feast given in his honour Accordingly it was sent in the ancient forers that neither he nor those with him who must not number more than twenty uarded on the road back until he reached the outposts of his own camp

This done, I was despatched up the Nile bank in a chariot accompanied only by Bes, to hurry on the ht reach Memphis by sundown Before I went, however, I had some words alone with Peroa He told e with the lady Aht

Thereon I prayed him to deliver to Amada the rope of priceless rose-hued pearls which was in his keeping, as ift, with the prayer that she would wear them at the feast for my sake There was no ti for the road was bad being covered with drifted sand in some places and deep in th I found the troops just starting forward after their rest, and rejoiced to see that there were ht I told the case to their captains, who promised to make a forced ht

As we drove back Bes said to me suddenly,

”Do you knohy you could not find ?”

I answered that I did not

”Because a good slave should always run a pace ahead of his master, to clear the road and tell hi ht Queen of the Ethiopians

So when you reat respect, as I do already”

”Indeed, Bes,” I said laughing, ”and how did you e that business?

Youthese days which have been so full for both of us”

”I did not woo her overI wooed the holy Tanofir, which was more important”

”The holy Tanofir, Bes?” I exclaimed

”Yes, Master You see this beautiful Cup of his is after all--his beautiful Cup Her mind is the shadow of his mind and from her he pours out his wisdory, for, notwithstanding the words he spoke to you andafter all much like other men, did not wish to lose his Cup Indeed had he been a few score of years younger I aotten some of his holiness because of her Still he caht at last--for your sake, Master, not for mine, since his wisdo of the Ethiopians again, to do which I must be married At any rate he worked upon thefirst settled that she should procure a younger sister of her own to fill her place--in such fashi+on that when at length I spoke to her on the matter, she did not say no”

”No doubt because she was fond of you for yourself, Bes A woman would not marry even to please the holy Tanofir”

”Oh! Master,” he replied in a new voice, a very sad voice, ”I would that I could think so But look at me, a misshapen dwarf, accursed from birth Could a fair lady like this Karema wed such a one for his own sake?”

”Well, Bes, there ht be other reasons besides the holy Tanofir,” I said hurriedly

”Master, there were no other reasons, unless the Cup, when it is awake, remembers what it has held in trance, which I do not believe I wooed her as I was, not telling her that I a of the Ethiopians, or any more than I see, for he swore as much to me and he does not lie”

”And what did she say to you, Bes?” I asked, for I was curious