warf,
trembling with agitation, shook off his hesitation, and said:

"I have found Uarda, the grandchild of Pinem, who had disappeared, and I
decoyed her here, for she and no other shall be my wife, if Ani is king,
and if Katuti makes me rich and free. She is in the service of the
Princess Bent-Anat, and sleeps in her anteroom, and she must not be burnt
with her mistress. She insisted on going back to the palace, so, as she
would fly to the fire like a gnat, and I would not have her risk being
burnt, I tied her up fast."

"Did she not struggle?" said Hekt.

"Like a mad thing," said the dwarf. "But the Regent's dumb slave, who was
ordered by his master to obey me in everything to-day, helped me. We tied
up her mouth that she might not be heard screaming!"

"Will you leave her alone when you go to do your errand?"

"Her father is with her!"

"Kaschta, the red-beard?" asked the old woman in surprise. "And did he
not break you in pieces like an earthenware pot?"

"He will not stir," said Nemu laughing. "For when I found him, I made him
so drunk with Ani's old wine that he lies there like a mummy. It was from
him that I learned where Uarda was, and I went to her, and got her to
come with me by telling her that her father was very ill, and begged her
to go to see him once more. She flew after me like a gazelle, and when
she saw the soldier lying there senseless she threw herself upon him, and
called for water to cool his head, for he was raving in his dreams of
rats and mice that had fallen upon him. As it grew late she wanted to
return to her mistress, and we were obliged to prevent her. How handsome
she has grown, mother; you cannot imagine how pretty she is."

"Aye, aye!" said Hekt. "You will have to keep an eye upon her when she is
your wife."

"I will treat her like the wife of a noble," said Nemu. "And pay a real
lady to guard her. But by this time Katuti has brought home her daughter,
Mena's wife; the stars are sinking and--there--that was the first signal.
When Katuti whistles the third time we are to go to work. Lend me your
fire-box, mother."

"Take it," said Hekt. "I shall never need it again. It is all over with
me! How your hand shakes! Hold the wood firmly, or you will drop it
before you have brought the fire."

The dwarf bid the old woman farewell, and she let him kiss her without
moving. When he was gone, she listened eagerly for any sound that might
pierce the silence of the night, her eyes shone