verly. The Regent was of opinion,
while he tried to soothe her, that there was no real love-potion in the
case; but the widow exclaimed:

"Now I understand, now for the first time I comprehend my daughter.
Paaker must have poured the drink into her wine, for she had no sooner
drunk it this morning than she was quite altered her words to Paaker had
quite a tender ring in them; and if he placed himself so cheerfully at
your disposal it is because he believes himself certainly to be beloved
by my daughter. The old witch's potion was effectual."

"There certainly are such drinks--" said Ani thoughtfully. "But will they
only win hearts to young men! If that is the case, the old woman's trade
is a bad one, for youth is in itself a charm to attract love. If I were
only as young as Paaker! You laugh at the sighs of a man--say at once of
an old man! Well, yes, I am old, for the prime of life lies behind me.
And yet Katuti, my friend, wisest of women--explain to me one thing. When
I was young I was loved by many and admired many women, but not one of
them--not even my wife, who died young, was more to me than a toy, a
plaything; and now when I stretch out my hand for a girl, whose father I
might very well be--not for her own sake, but simply to serve my
purpose--and she refuses me, I feel as much disturbed, as much a fool
as-as that dealer in love-philters, Paaker."

"Have you spoken to Bent-Anat?" asked Katuti.

"And heard again from her own lips the refusal she had sent me through
you. You see my spirit has suffered!"

"And on what pretext did she reject your suit?" asked the widow.

"Pretext!" cried Ani. "Bent-Anat and pretext! It must be owned that she
has kingly pride, and not Ma--[The Goddess of Truth]--herself is more
truthful than she. That I should have to confess it! When I think of her,
our plots seem to me unutterably pitiful. My veins contain, indeed, many
drops of the blood of Thotmes, and though the experience of life has
taught me to stoop low, still the stooping hurts me. I have never known
the happy feeling of satisfaction with my lot and my work; for I have
always had a greater position than I could fill, and constantly done less
than I ought to have done. In order not to look always resentful, I
always wear a smile. I have nothing left of the face I was born with but
the mere skin, and always wear a mask. I serve him whose master I believe
I ought to be by birth; I hate Rameses, who, sincerely or no, call