said that her orders should be obeyed, and the audience
being finished, still bowing and supported by Mermes, began to walk
backwards towards the door, his eyes fixed upon the face of Tua, who sat
with bent head, clasping the arms of her chair like one in difficulty
and doubt. When he had gone a few steps she seemed to come to some
determination, for with an effort she raised herself and said:

"Return, Count Rames, I have a message to give you for the King of Kesh
who, unhappy man, has lost his son and heir, and it is one that no other
ears must hear. Leave me a while with this captain, O Mermes and Asti,
and see that none listen to our talk. Presently I will summon you to
conduct him away."

They hesitated, for this thing seemed strange, then noting the look she
gave them, departed through the doors behind the royal seat.

Now Rames and the Queen were left alone in that great, lighted chamber.
With bent head and folded arms he stood before her while she looked at
him intently, yet seemed to find no words to say. At length she spoke in
a sweet, low voice.

"It is many years since we were playmates in the courts of the temple
yonder, and since then we have never been alone together, have we,
Rames?"

"No, Great Lady," answered Rames, "for you were born to be a queen, and
I am but a humble soldier who cannot hope to consort with queens."

"Who cannot hope! Would you wish to then if you could?"

"O Queen," answered Rames, biting his lips, "why does it please you to
make a mock of me?"

"It does not please me to do any such thing, for by my father Amen,
Rames, I wish that we were children once more, for those were happy
days before they separated us and set you to soldiering and me to
statecraft."

"You have learnt your part well, Star of the Morning," said Rames,
glancing at her quickly.

"Not better than you, playmate Rames, if I may judge from your
sword-play this night. So it seems that we both of us are in the way of
becoming masters of our trades."

"What am I to say to your Majesty? You have saved my life when it was
forfeit----"

"As once you saved mine when it was forfeit, and at greater risk. Look
at your hand, it will remind you. It was but tit for tat. And, friend
Rames, this day I came near to being eaten by a worse crocodile than
that which dwells in the pool yonder."

"I guessed as much, Queen, and the thought made me mad. Had it not been
for that I should only have thrown him down. Now tha